3
The school year couldn’t get over fast enough for Dar. As the last week came to a close, he realized there were less and less in his class he even considered acquaintances, and Garnic really was his only friend. The Cunik and the unfamiliar territory of space seemed more comforting than the harassment he suffered on a daily basis. At least Krodus left him alone after the stabbing. Dar decided to keep the knife; it might come in handy in space. And if Krodus ever came after him, he’d make sure he returned the knife—perhaps in the other arm.
Walking down the hall, Dar noticed some of the others looking at him differently. It was either his victory over Krodus, or Miratta leaked the secret of his virginity; at any rate, they looked at him. Dar no longer cared. School would be over tomorrow, and he’d hopefully be on his way with Gwog shortly after. Maybe then he wouldn’t be teased so badly.
“Hey, Dar!” Garnic hollered.
Dar stopped and turned. “What?”
“My father said he’s heard the Cunik is approaching.”
He smiled. “Nice to have a friend whose father works in the long-range communications section.”
“Oh? Is that all I’m good for?” He gave Dar a jab in the side.
“No, no, sorry. You’re my friend, my only friend.”
“Can’t you take me with you?”
Dar scratched his head. “I dunno. Gwog really wasn’t too keen on taking me…Mother kinda begged him.” He folded his arms. “Besides, you’re a purebred, and I’m sure you’ll find a female pretty quick.”
“Doubt it.”
“Why not? You won’t be hanging around with me anymore, you’ll make more friends.”
“But you’re my friend, Dar, we’ve always been friends.” Garnic leaned against the wall.
“It’s time for us to grow up…I need to go my way, and you, yours. We knew it was coming.”
“I just never thought that time would be now.”
Krodus walked by. He slowed up, debating if he wanted to mess with Dar. Locking his eyes on the big Satiren, Dar reached behind his back, his hand resting on the knife handle. Krodus changed his mind and kept going. Dar let out an audible sigh.
“Wow, he didn’t even mess with you! That was cool!” Garnic said.
“He tries anything, he’ll get his knife back—point first.”
“Damn, you’re sounding like a real space tough.”
Dar shook his head. “No, I’m learning no one out there is gonna stick up for me, except me.” He regarded Garnic; they were roughly the same height, but his purebred friend was nearly twice as muscular. “You know, you’re much bigger than me, why didn’t you come to my aid when I got in fights?”
Garnic looked down, scuffing his shoe on the floor. “’Cause I guess I’m game fowl.”
“Afraid?!”
“Yeah.”
Dar shook his head. “All these years I’ve gotten the shit beat out of me, and you’re afraid?”
“Sorry…But hey, look, you’re better for it. You can take care of yourself now.”
“I suppose I can.”
That evening, Dar stood on the porch. He had a pair of spotting glasses, his eyes trained into darkness. It was a fantastic night. Stars shined brightly, and meteors streaked across the sky. The Erotin moon, Argis was full and hung low on the horizon. As Dar watched one bright star, something obstructed his view. “Hey!” he barked, lowering the glasses. Squinting his eyes, he saw something moving in space. “What the heck is that?” Holding the glasses up, he watched. “Shit! That’s a vessel!” He ran inside. “Mother! Mother!”
Denrika was in the kitchen, washing up from dinner. “What?”
“Mother, you gotta see this!”
“What?”
“A ship, a huge ship!”
Denrika set down the dish towel and followed Dar. “I wonder if that’s the Cunik?” she asked.
“That?!” Dar said, aghast.
“Well, Gwog did say it was the biggest ship in the galaxy.”
He held the glasses up and watched. “Wow, if that’s the Cunik, that thing must be a mile long!”
“I guess you’ll find out soon…Tomorrow’s your last day at school.” Denrika sat down in one of the patio chairs. “Are you ready to go?”
“I guess so…Seems so inundating.”
“You’re growing up, time for you to spread your wings and fly.”
Dar set the glasses on the low wall. “I don’t know when I’ll be home again. Will you be all right?”
“I’ll be fine. As long as I have a job, I’ll be all right.”
He sat down across from her. “Have you ever been in space, mother?”
“Yes, many, many years ago. I was a tiny youngling when your grandparents came from Satiris. They were older when they had me, and died when I was about fifteen. I’ve been on my own for quite a while.”
“What was it like?”
“Space? I don’t remember, I was so young.”
He gazed up to see the Cunik slowly passing over. “I’ll come home when I can.”
“I know you will…You’re a good son, Dar. I’m happy you’ve been in my life.”
“How could you say that? I mean, if it weren’t for me, you might’ve taken up with a male and life-joined…Because of me, they want nothing to do with you.”
Denrika got up and went over to him. “Dar, you’ve brought so much joy to my life. You have to understand that while Satirens are more or less programmed for love; that love can take on many different facets.”
“But isn’t the goal of every Satiren to mate? To have a wife or two? Or a husband or two?”
“You of all know there’s little perfect in this world.” She ran her fingers through the soft patch of green hair that covered his forehead. “But we’re survivors, and we do what we have to.” Her fingers trailed down the back of his head, feeling the different texture of the dark brown hair that covered the rest of his head.
“Do you think you’ll find someone when I’m gone?” he asked.
“I dunno.” Denrika reached over and took the torn flap of his right ear between her fingers. She tried to make it stand up, but the point refused, drooping down. “I imagine I’ll be lonely without you. Should a male invite me, I might take up with him.”
“After all you’ve done for me, you deserve to be happy.”
She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his brow ridges. “I’ll be happy knowing you’re following your dreams.”
The last day of school let out. There was no fancy graduation for the senior class; simply a few pieces of paper handed to each student indicating their grades and a “diploma” of sorts. They were now “adults” and expected to make their own way in society.
Dar shoved the papers into his coat pocket along with his reading tablet. He figured it might be handy to keep around, especially since it had loads of information on other alien species. Each student was required to purchase a tablet, so when school was over, it became theirs to keep. He made a beeline for the general store where Denrika worked. Half way there, he got intercepted by Garnic.
“Hey! Dar!” Garnic ran over to him.
“What?”
“My father said the Cunik’s put in stationary orbit.”
“I think I saw it last night; fucking huge ship!”
“Really?”
Dar held out his arms. “It looked like a mile long.”
“Wow. I bet you can’t wait, huh?”
They reached the front stoop of the store. Dar leaned against one of the support posts. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t afraid,” he said softly.
“Goin’ into the big, bad void of space, who wouldn’t?”
“I just hope I made the right decision.”
Garnic opened the door. “Come on, let’s have one more Erotin sage root float before you go.”
Dar smiled. “I’m gonna miss those.”
“Well, think of all the new stuff you’ll get to try.”
He looked around for his mother, she must be in the back, he thought as he slid behind the counter and started preparing their drinks. Garnic stood at the counter.
“You want three scoops?” Dar asked.
“Of course!”
Denrika came from the back. “What mischief are you up to?”
“Sage root floats, mother.”
“Oh, all right. Don’t make a mess, I just cleaned up back there.” She went to stock some shelves.
“I won’t, I won’t.” He served Garnic a drink, then finished making his own. Choosing to stay behind the counter, Dar happily sipped on it. “Mmm, good!”
Garnic leaned over. “As much as I like your mother’s sage root floats, yours are better,” he whispered.
“I put a bit more sage in it than she does.”
The bell above the door clanged and Gwog strolled in. Garnic turned around and gasped at the sheer size of the alien.
“Good afternoon,” Gwog said in his most polite tone.
Denrika looked up from her work. “Greetings, Gwog.”
“Greetings.” He gave her a nod, and went to the counter. “Hello, Dar.”
“Sir,” Dar said nervously.
“Are you done with school?”
“Yes, sir—finished today.” He pointed to Garnic. “This is my best friend, Garnic.”
“Nice to meet you, Garnic,” Gwog said with a nod. He pointed to their drinks. “I’ll have one of those as long as you’re playing bartender.”
“Sage root float?” Dar asked.
“I may be a big, ugly alien, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like a sweet treat once in a while.”
“Yes, sir! Coming right up!” He quickly whipped up another drink and slid it across the counter.
Gwog picked up the glass, gave it a sniff, and took a sip. “Ah, most excellent!” He took a long swallow. “I shall have you make these for me once in a while.”
“Yes, sir.”
He took a few more swallows before setting the glass down. “Tell me, youngling, have you ever tasted Darminian chocolate?”
Dar shook his head. “No, sir.” He tugged at the tip of his left ear. “But I hear Satirens have ears like Darminian kittens.”
He chuckled. “Mmm, yes. Darminian chocolate coupled with Erotin sage, a taste to die for!”
“I look forward to seeing what the galaxy has to offer.”
Gwog lifted the glass to his lips. “So you’ve made up your mind?”
“Yes, sir. As difficult as the thought of leaving my mother is; if I don’t, I may never get another chance like this.”
“No, you may not…But, youngling, I’m not going to fuss over you—I expect you to work hard.”
“I can do my fair share of work.”
Gwog finished off his drink. “Are you ready to go?”
“I wasn’t sure when you’d be here, sir, so I have some things packed. But I still have a little more to do.”
“Well, youngling, let’s get your things, I want to break orbit by sundown.”
“Yes, sir!” Dar chugged down the last of his float. “Can we come back here so I can say good-bye to mother?”
“Of course.”
Garnic stood with a sad expression on his face. “I’m going to miss you, best friend.”
Dar held his hand out. “I’ll miss you too, best friend.”
“Promise you’ll come visit?” He took Dar’s hand.
“Every chance I get.” Dar grabbed him and turned it into a hug. Perhaps that wasn’t the best thing to do in front of Gwog, hugging was a youngling thing, and now he was an adult and expected to act like one.
As he slid his grasp from Garnic, Dar looked at Gwog. “The house is at the end of the street; just a few minutes’ walk.”
“Let’s go then. We still have a shuttle ride to make.” Gwog opened the door and ushered Dar out. When they were outside, and away from Garnic and Denrika, he put his hand on Dar’s shoulder. “You know space is dangerous?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And you still want to go?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m not going to coddle or fuss over you like a youngling. I expect you to work. If you don’t, I’ll drop you back to your mother on my next trip through.”
Dar squared his shoulders. “I’m not afraid of work.”
“All right, then, let’s get your things and get going.”