Chapter 53: Meeting a cat in a dream.Sloan realized he was in a dream when he looked around, and the blue haze had become white. Glancing down, Sloan discovered he was dressed in his band t-shirt and jeans. Everything he wore was clean. The room was a pleasant seventy degrees, and he was warm and comfortable. A chair appeared. The seat was an oversized overstuffed wingback like he would find in an old library. Sloan sat and leaned back on the cushion. He traced the logo on his shirt. This must be a dream because the shirt was pristine. Fuck. It was nice to have a seat instead of curling in cold mud. He didn't realize how much he missed a simple thing like a chair. Ahead of where Sloan sat, a man appeared in the fog. Sloan stared at the newcomer as he approached. The guy was taller than Sloan and wiry with only a few muscles. His plain brown hair was trimmed to his shoulders, and his eyes were plain brown as well. His clothes had Sloan lifting one eyebrow. The twenty-something man wa
Chapter 54: Octnavin can't always win.After Sloan was yanked out of his dream with Murry, he rubbed his eyes and glanced at the walls of the empty cell. When he finally shook himself awake enough to move around, he headed to the water basin and washed his hands and face. He tried to clean his teeth. After he stripped out of his tattered shirt, he washed the garment in the water hole. He rung out the cotton and then gazed at his once prized band t-shirt. The fabric was splattered with so much blood and dirt the logo wasn't visible anymore. He recalled the one from the dream and sighed.Wiggling, Sloan slipped off his pants next. He tried to wash them in the rock basin. He wrinkled his nose at his ripped jeans. Never in his life had he been so filthy. Not even after his mom lost their apartment and they were homeless for six months.A low hum signified the platform was heading his way. Sloan glanced to where he expected to see Octnavin stepping off the elevator. Typically, the king of t
Chapter 55: Saving the great ruler.Sloan wasn't sure how long he knelt next to the still form of Octnavin, but suddenly, it was all too much. Octnavin's death started to sink in and wrap its icy claws around Sloan's heart."Fuck you," Sloan screamed over his shoulder at the platform. "Fuck all of you. You want to fight, you cowards? You're all pussy-ass wimps. Come and get me." Furious, Sloan jumped to his feet. They had killed Octnavin. He couldn't believe the ruler of the Dagerstanteens was dead. His warrior, his alien, was gone.Again Sloan hollered at the platform. The wound in his heart and soul was more profound than any loss he'd ever felt on Earth. As his pain and anger enveloped the cell, Sloan found a chunk of rock. He threw the stone toward the platform. When the rock struck the metal, it made a loud ping."Come and get me, bitch-ass snake girls. I'll fuck you up."Once again, the silence pressed in from all sides. Sloan sank to his knees next to the ruler of the Dagerstant
Chapter 56: Time for a shower.Sloan hated the idea of leaving Octnavin, but he knew he wasn't much help in the hospital room. He wanted to see that the great leader would be alright, but he figured he would have to use his connection to the ruler in his brain. Right now, he felt blocked from Octnavin and didn't know how to get around it. Sloan decided that as soon as he was alone in a bedroom, he would force his way into the alien's mind and help in whatever way he could.Through the halls of fabric, Sloan followed Murry. The young man started talking as soon as they began to trot."While you are here, I kind of suggest that you stay in your room until we come for you. Not that there is a lot to do around here. The ship isn't action-packed, but I'm sure after the other place you were, you could use a little rest and relaxation."The man seemed completely comfortable on the spaceship and with the moving silk under his bare feet. Sloan now realized Murry's genie-style clothes were Keltr
Chapter 57: Goodbye.Sloan woke in a bed of soft silks. The Nebos cradled him, and he sighed. As soon as his eyes opened, he checked on Octnavin's mind. The alien was giving commands to multiple advisers and important Dagerstanteens from the court. Sloan backed out of the alien's head and headed to the shower. He washed and then brushed. It was nice not to feel that fuzz on his teeth.When he was clean, Sloan grabbed a handful of pink Nebos and tied a wide strip around his waist. He paddled to the eating table and then stopped. His eyes swung to his left. Octnavin stood in the doorway. "Hey." Sloan tucked some of his blond hair behind his ear. "I like your hair.""It's not blue.""I like it anyway."Octnavin closed the door and took one small step inside the room. He was still missing his middle tentacle, but the rest of him looked like nothing had happened. A bandage of pink wrapped tightly around his middle. The rest of his muscles gleamed, and he radiated with strength and power.
Chapter 58: Heading home.The next morning, Murry brought Sloan a backpack with basic items he would need to travel. When he was dressed in jeans and a hoodie, Keltrix and Murry took him to another white egg-shaped pod. "This goes to Earth?" Sloan asked as he scanned Keltrix. The alien was in a human suit and looked like a tall, young, Asian man with a long black ponytail."We are on Earth now," Murry answered as Keltrix snapped a language band around Murry's bicep."We are?""This ship is parked on the bottom of the ocean while we were sleeping," Murry explained as he sat on Keltrix's lap in the little white chair. "The Learning Institute says they are studying ocean and plant life. The ship cloaks and then parks under the water. We come up in the pod, and JP's assistant, Amy, picks us up in the ocean with The Learning's Institute's yacht.""It works." Keltrix shrugged. "Amy is paid well enough that she does not ask questions.""Does she know about…?" Sloan waved to Keltrix's Asian m
Chapter 59: Home sweet home.Two days of travel was enough to make anyone dizzy and exhausted. By the time Sloan got off the plane to meet Elijah, he could barely keep his eyes open and stay upright. Everything he ate made him feel full to bursting, and he'd only finally settled his stomach by eating raspberry smoothies. Drinking a smoothie, he found Elijah in a car parked outside beyond the baggage claim. Carrying his backpack and rolling his new suitcase, he waved when his friend jumped out of a sleek new sedan. "You're back!" Elijah hugged him and then hopped into the driver's seat. Sloan tossed his bags in the backseat and got into the car. "I have lots to tell you.""What did I miss?" Sloan sucked down his smoothie and rolled down the window. Sunshine warmed his face."You got fired from the coffee shop.""Figured.""And you got fired from the bar." "That sounds about right.""And we got evicted.""Of course we did.""Was it worth it to jet off with a hot rich guy to a tropical
Chapter 60: Not alone.The next day, Sloan chatted with the manager of Dager Gym on the phone. The woman had a spot for Sloan starting next week. According to the lady, JP, as the health center owner, had insisted she hire Sloan because of his "great qualifications." Sloan had no idea what those were, but he needed a job, so he just went with it. As he talked to the woman, he got the impression she wanted him to become her assistant manager. Sloan would see. For now, whatever the work was, the job was fine with him. He needed something…well, anything really… just to not think about Octnavin.Sloan took his motorcycle out for a short ride and got everything he needed to make raspberry smoothies. After he came home and ate, he curled up in the new pink blanket he bought. In minutes, he was asleep, and he took an afternoon nap. By the time Elijah came over with Chinese, he was just getting up. He had no idea why he was so tired. It had to be all the travel. How long did jet lag last? "He
Chapter 136: The end of... Life and Death.Standing between his grove of apple trees and his rows of orange trees, Ike stopped and inhaled the blossoms in the wind. The bright star of the Dagerstanteen planet had him closing his eyes and sighing in delight. He'd never been outside this much, and he was addicted to the warm fresh air. He grinned. There were a few things he was addicted to now, one of which was the three humans laughing, chatting, and strolling toward him.Ike opened his eyes and smiled at the three men walking between his carrots."Ike," Chasm called. "We are here to learn.""Thank you for agreeing to take care of my plants while I travel with JP." Ike nodded."Caveman." Sloan approached him using the nickname he'd given Ike after they met. Sloan held up his hand, and Ike slapped Sloan's palm before his new friend jogged over to where the row of raspberry bushes was growing. "This is badass."Ike glanced at Chasm and raised an eyebrow."It means good," Chasm translated.
Chapter 135: Taking the fire back.JP didn't make a sound after Lee's announcement, but Ike could see his thoughts moving in a whirl. JP was making plans. The alien was rigging up a way to pull him from the fire if he said yes. The alien was also simultaneously trying to figure out how to keep Ike alive for a long time if he didn't hold the fire and if they didn't get the lifesaving water. Ike was very old and his Dagerstanteen blood would only do so much. Plus, all the humans needed the healing water. It wasn't just his life they were talking about here."I…" Ike pictured going back to the rain planet. He would have to watch time tick by while he held the fire again. The loneliness would eat at him. "I will have to return to the sanctuary," Ike murmured."Never," JP snapped."You do know that you burned that to the ground, right?" Keltrix asked."I will forbid you from returning to your old home." Octnavin's sentence was unmovable stone. "If you were to take the ember and regrow the P
Chapter 134: Life after the fire.As soon as Ike had the sensation of being set on a cold table, his eyes opened wide. It had been a long time since Ike felt the sensation of cold."JP?""He is here."Ike looked into Keltrix's eyes and then pushed away from the tentacles holding him. He sat and swung his legs until he was on the edge of an exam table in a laboratory."Where am I?" Ike glanced at Keltrix and then at Octnavin. Next to him on a second table was JP. The alien looked burned from head to toe. He wasn't moving, and Ike felt panic. Did the fire kill JP? Why was everyone acting like it didn't matter?"JP?" Ike set his hand on his blackened skin. The hard surface was rippled and rough."What is that thing that Sloan likes to say?" Keltrix asked Octnavin."He bounces back fast." Octnavin crossed his middle tentacles over his chest."Yes," Keltrix agreed. "That's it.""Where are we?" Ike glanced at the leader of the Dagerstanteens. "Is JP dead?""This is our ship, and we are parke
Chapter 133: At the fire temple.Ike kept himself conscious by listening to the Dagerstanteen that carried him. JP found the most boring things to list in Ike's head until he had to fight not to sleep. Although Ike struggled to stay awake, he did agree that JP kept his emotions and the fire calm.As the air got colder, the cooler air had him focusing. The six of them started to climb up a wide rock staircase on the closest side of a small mountain. The guards that had followed them stayed at the bottom. All around them was water, and there were no sides or railings to the steps. One move to the left or the right, and they would fall into the dark, murky moat.Ike lifted his chin and tipped his head as they marched. His heart beat a little faster when he spotted the Panchen Fire Shrine.This is where he would die.When they reached the end of the staircase, JP stepped onto smooth marble. Ike noted that the water lapped at the highest point and splashed like the liquid wanted to take ove
Chapter 132: Albeon.When Ike awoke, he was cradled in JP's tentacles, but the skin was not soft and silky. The tentacles that held him were stiff and hard and throbbing with heat. The alien had turned his skin into armor, and Ike didn't know why.Blinking rapidly, Ike was about to explain again how he was heading to Albeon no matter what JP said, but as he focused his eyes, he was shocked and speechless at what was happening around him.JP stood in front of Princess Lee and three old Albeon women. Ike knew who those women were. Shay had told him about the three elders. There was Dilma, Payson, and Rolla. He was finally on the planet Albeon and besides the women in front of him, all around the open field, stood male Albeon guards of every shape and size. The number of weapons pointed at him was concerning, and he found himself holding his breath.On the right of JP stood Octnavin holding a sizeable pink bundle in his arms. On JP's left side stood a fully armed Keltrix like a silent sen
Chapter 131: Out of control. Fenton and Shay stood in his living area. As Ike walked out of his bedroom, he began to roll a cigarette. He felt nauseous and wanted to curl up and cry and rail against the unfairness of life. But he wouldn't do that in front of anyone. He could fall apart later when he was alone. Right now, he had to get dressed and leave with some dignity. He could hear Baja in his head. He needed to get it together and keep the fire calm."Ike—" Fenton stopped when JP strode out of Ike's bedroom. "JP? What are you doing here?""Greetings," Shay murmured as her eyes went from JP to Ike. "I didn't know he was...." Shay lifted her eyebrows and then grinned. "What were you doing in your bedroom?""Talking." Ike gave Shay a warning look to let it go and then brought his cigarette to his lips."Arguing," JP said at the same time."Did you bring me a new ship?" Ike asked as he lit his cigarette and ignored the Dagerstanteen."I brought mine. I will escort you." Queen Shay nod
Chapter 130: Time to leave.Ike used JP's tentacle as a pillow as he stared at the ceiling above his bed. For the last two days, he'd had sex, talked, ate, laughed, and had more sex. In the end, he did everything he could so that he wouldn't have to tell JP that he was going to his death. He'd never been this happy, and he hated to end his relationship with the Dagerstanteen but....He knew he had to, and soon.Any moment Lee or Shay would show up with a ship, and he was leaving to fly to Albeon. He must get rid of the fire. The flame was staying calm right now, but the blaze could get out of control, and it was only a matter of time before the fire burst from him. His exhaustion was rising from trying to keep the fire from blowing, and he was scared to find out what would happen if he ran out of energy. He would not be responsible for that kind of destruction. Ike had to tell JP and explain. It was the right thing to do.Ike rolled over and cushioned his cheek against JP's shoulder. H
Chapter 129: Playing."I cannot believe I am about to make a fool of myself." Ike sat in the middle of the bench and stared up at the massive instrument. The strings were on the right and left and came down from a long bar across the top. He couldn't even reach some parts of the instrument unless he got up and ran around. He refused to be that ridiculous.Cracking his knuckles, Ike paused as he decided he would play the easiest song he knew, and even though he couldn't hit all the notes, it would probably sound good enough that his ears wouldn't bleed."Any time," JP teased."You'll regret this." Ike glared at the alien and then reached his hands outward and wiggled his fingers.JP made a slight giggle under his breath.Ike ignored the alien and began the song. He plucked at each string until the notes shimmered in the air. The sound waves rolled off the loominairin, and he grinned at the beauty of the music. The song was simple, and he had just reached halfway went JP moved behind him
Chapter 128: Flying back home.When Ike awoke, he pulled himself into a sitting position and leaned against the front window of his ship. He was naked and covered in a blanket. After he rubbed his eyes, he glanced over his shoulder. His home planet was coming into view."What happened?" Ike bounded to his feet in shock and then wrapped the cloth around his waist. He hunted for his armor and picked up the pieces of clothing strewn all over the command deck."I do not know what you are asking me. Nothing happened." JP gave him a quick look before he went back to flying his ship. "You fell asleep after you reached your third climax. You have quite the stamina. I think that is your Dagerstanteen blood." The alien sounded amused. "When we were free to leave the ocean floor, and there were no threats to the ship, I took over flying and let you rest. I said goodbye to Tullie for you.""I bet you did," Ike muttered as he pictured what JP probably said about Ike being placed in a sexual stupor