----------------------------------------
A large, near-oppressive red sun shimmers and dominates the clear blue sky, in the distance, menacing cumulonimbus clouds.
Looks like thunder, hopefully we’ll be done before that...
Young Frank detaches his gaze from the horizon and sinks his shovel into a massive Buffalophant’s dung pile, splayed on the grass of the empty enclosure.
It sinks in easily, but lifting up such a heavy and disheartening load of disappointment, was harder to bare.
“Ever heard of the ‘trial’ lasting for weeks? We’ll never get this smell off us if we do this for much longer...”
I say to my fated brother-in-arms and stretch my sore joints after yet another throw.
“Now you realize they’ve had it out for us since day one? I doubt they’ll ever even let us do any treatment, much less operations.”
Ray says without looking at me, as he tosses a load from his shovel onto the hoverplate’s crap container, it slightly bobs downwards.
To the right of me, my best friend poured down fewer droplets of liquid work, while shoveling away faster than me.
I had met Ray in the University, over the five years there, our relationship deepened, with matched goals and aspirations.
Though, that’s where our similarities ended, the first time we met, I thought he was coming to mug me in pure daylight just outside campus.
His gait, so confident and firm, a leather jacket and an expression to match, but all he asked in exchange for my life, was to work with me in a group project.
We’ve been good friends ever since, both of our ‘unique’ personalities, complimenting the other’s weaknesses.
One thing continued to bother me though, and years later, I finally got my answer to the question:
Why did he come to talk to me, of all people back then?
After much pestering, he admitted that my wild hair, made me look like the only one there, actually capable and qualified to be a vet.
Though, he didn’t say it nearly as politely then, it was just my interpretation from: “Gotta look like an animal to know one.”
We both even got our first real jobs, in the same place, though, it didn’t exactly match our expectations...
I sigh, for how right he had been once again.
"I didn't even think, the shit-shoveling welcome, was a real thing, that they all exaggerated it at school.
If only we had gotten into ISSA…”
“We didn't though, but you sure like to keep prattling on about them.”
“Sorry, I can’t help it.” Stopping myself at the last second from touching the back of my neck, I continue shoveling.
Really shouldn’t have forgotten to tie my hair up today...
“I know… I bet it be faster for us to just open up our own vet clinic, get the loans, rent the premises, hire all the staff and even take a few years more education.”
With each problem listed; one more shovelful of shit, rhythmically and forcefully slammed into the container by Ray.
“Even after all that we’d still have some time to spare, before these beetle-skunk asses let us actually do anything.”
“I bet you're right… I thought it was going to be different here… Maybe I was a fool imagining we’d get to do veterinarian work in a Zoo.
No room for us and their regular vets...”
I wipe some more sweat with the back of my wrist, being conscious and careful of my long hair from touching much of anything for that matter.
Ray's spiky buzz cut avoided my issue completely, his more muscular build helping him succeed in this sort of grunt work too.
At least like me, his brow was pouring droplets of liquid work, though I suspect it was only because he kept a brisker pace.
His forceful shoveling; fast and careless, showing clearly in the state of his overalls.
Suddenly, it hits me, inspiration from our earlier exchange, I knew exactly what we needed to do.
I loudly plonk down the shovel into the dung, the thickness of it allowing it to stand upright.
“You said it yourself, why don’t we just found our own Veterinary clinic!"
“Because its super expensive and really difficult?” Ray shoots back immediately, obviously without even considering it.
I lean on the shovel confidently.
“All we need is just some capital to get started. Everything else will sort itself out after that.”
“You can't be serious.”
Ray doesn't stop working, flinging another load onto the cart, which seemed as empty, as the dung-piles were endless.
“We will register our company first thing tomorrow! Finally starting our road to putting the education and expertise, we labored so hard for, to real use.”
“Who’s going to come to a vet of two total greenhorns? We might somehow, be able to start and even get our own premises...
But we definitely won’t be able to afford hiring anyone, just affording the equipment will be hard!”
“It’ll be fine.”
“Come on, stop dreaming, there’s already a million established vet clinics, how are we to stand out, to even compete with them?”
"Hmm..." I remember some recent news, offering a solution.
"Do you recall the turned down bill, to allow aliens to use the already established hospitals?"
“No way.”
Ray finally stops shoveling too.
“You said we needed to stand out… A completely untapped clientele-”
“Frank, we don’t know the first thing about Aliens! Much less of treating them!”
“Well, maybe you don’t, but, at least I know… something.”
I stop my hand gesture too late and feel the horror, of a wet and warm stain in my hair.
Ray just shakes his head at me.
“We would be their only option, basically guaranteed to succeed.”
I lament the fate of my hair, disappointed, but keep my head on track.
“We’ll get experience, in treating normal animals, alien species and everything in between. Just what we’ll need to actually get hired by ISSA.”
“Fine...”
Ray throws his own shovel into a pile of mush, firmly sticking upwards as well.
“Can’t be worse than this shit.”
"Hey! No slacking off!" A voice from above orders.
"Yes, boss!" Startled, we answer in unison, pick up our shovels and getting back to work...
----------------------------------------
Ray walks backwards in front of me, the lampposts lighting our way, on late-night streets of Metropolis.
Wearing a streetwise leather jacket and dark colors, making me feel out of place with my usual shades of green.
“You said it yourself, we just need some capital and the rest will solve itself, what’s the hold up?”
“How can they possibly pay us so much for this job? I know the loans aren’t enough even with our salary, but-”
“Don’t worry about it, I’ve flown with them before, they’re cool.”
“Are you sure… this is legal?” I look around and see nobody else about, this part of town had no night activities, after all.
“Of course it is, they aren’t going to bring it to the Zoo on Metropolis.”
“Right, the wildlife act… of course…” I fidget and hesitate, unable to think of any more excuses, I keep on following Ray.
He turns back around and looks over his shoulder:
“Come on now, we’ll be late!”
And quickens his pace.
We walk fast through the industrial district and cut through darkness engulfed alleyways.
Fortunately, nobody was there awaiting to mug us. Crime had after all, been in a steady decline, ever since the Galactic Police was reformed and renamed.
Not that violent crime had been common before, but nowadays, it was near non-existent.
Arriving into the yard of some unknown building, a large spaceship awaits us there, along with two men.
Shrouded in the night and the shadow cast by the tall facility.
“Thought you were a no-show.” The bigger of the two says, strong and muscular, obvious even though his arms were hidden inside a big jacket.
“Chill Chode, we’re here alright.” Ray talks back to him.
“That’s your friend?”
The other, slimmer one asks, wearing fancier clothes and a beret.
“Hmph.”
He crosses his arms, his decorated sleeves show and reflect light, I recognize the attire, a military uniform for spaceship pilots.
“He sure is.” Ray says, seemingly unshaken by their gruff demeanor.
I just gives them a careful nod.
“Well, boys, lets get going.”
We climb up the ship’s open cargo hold slope, our shoes clinking against the metal.
“Where exactly are we going?” I dare to ask only, with the two men’s backs turned, Ray immediately looks at me and shakes his head.
One of them responds, I can’t say which, for their similarly deep and monotone voices.
“You’re better of not knowing, kid.”
Worry shows in my face as I look at Ray with my own disapproval.
_________________________________________________________
The travel is rattly and noisy. Old seats, and somewhat decrepit and dirty interior, one would be glad the state of the lighting matched the rest of the ship's condition.
Like a nightclub, you’d much rather keep the lights down low, than be able to really make out just what awaited in the dark.
It was the biggest ship I had traveled in so far. Its impressiveness stuck with me, despite the circumstances.
The interior matched its size, though the right side of it was cut off suddenly with a closer wall, despite there being still much more room that way to cover.
On the left, a large cage located in a corner, taking a lot of that side’s space.
It seemed to be custom fitted, its iron bars, embedded into the roof and floor.
At least five meters in length, though not quite as wide. Many, and almost any animal, would fit in that.
A warp later, and we arrive near a glowing, white planet, a thick mist surrounded it, resembling a constant snowstorm, covering any shapes of the surface.
“We’ll take the shuttle down, Jave will wait for our return here.” Chode informs unexpectedly helpful.
“Suit up”
We put on the spacesuits, and carry the helmets on our hands, at least they looked well mended, though far from new.
At least they didn't seem to skimp on the necessities.
But...
Why did we need the suits?
If we are just going to store the animal here in that cage, surely the air on the planet must be breathable.
Not wishing to bother them any more, I keep it to myself, there was sure to be a reason for it.
We march through the door of the closer right wall, into a large airlock. From the other end, we step into a shuttle, its interior almost as large as some individual ships.
Though, certainly older than anything I had ever rode in, not only due to the darkened interior and seats.
Rather, the tech itself seemed questionable, it consisted of gauges and switches, of devices I had no idea what they were used for.
Making the trip seem even more dangerous and exciting – the two feelings, hanging both in a delicate balance, in even doses.
In hindsight, I wish I had asked Chode about the shuttle then, but he seemed impossible to approach, much less ask something of.
Maybe I just had to get to know the two men better, Ray certainly seemed laid back even in their company.
I look through a round window of the shuttle, we were now much closer.
From here I could tell, that instead of a raging ever-frost and frigid weather, it looked like the whole planet was instead covered in… wool.
Like it was fluffy.
Strands, countless, short strings of puffy fur, of soft flowing substance seemed to cover the planet with their swirling.
“You should be glad, only a few will ever get to see these sights.” The rough voice of Chode breaks my concentration.
Those enigmatic words were the only talk of the shuttle trip, before we landed.
“Helmets on.” Chode says and hands us two long metal sticks, with hoops at the end of them and a button on the stock.
We obey and each grab a stick.
Confused, I look at Ray, who seems business as usual, then back at Chode, his wide and mildly-scarred face serious.
“We’re... going to wrangle it?”
“Yes. Press the button on, if it gives you trouble.”
“What are we looking for?” Ray asks, a shock for me to hear.
“There shouldn’t be anything but that one species still living here. If you manage to find something else, that would be even better.”
Chode sits back on the pilot chair and leans on its backrest, crossing his hands behind his head.
“Get going then, I’ll wait here.”
“W-what?”
“Chop chop.”
Ray thumps me on the shoulder and gestures for us to go.
We step into the airlock with our ridiculous long metal sticks, the inner doors close and near instantly, open the way outside.
Long white strands, like long tendrils, or impossibly long fluffy animal hairs, cling to everything on the surface.
What I assumed to be trees, had no trace of their original color, though I couldn't be sure, they hadn't always been like this.
Pure and blinding white ruled the landscape, only the constant movement of the mass in the wind made it possible to determine any sort of borders or topography between objects.
The ground was soft, almost like a trampoline, only it didn’t bounce you back up.
You just sank into the fluffy and dusty white with every step, waiting and hoping that the sinking eventually ended.
“Great friends you’ve made.” I talk to Ray, with the inbuilt close range radio of the suit.
Ray doesn’t answer to me, we just keep walking in the whiter than snow terrain.
“Totally doesn’t feel like they are using us.”
“Well, they pay to use us. That’s the whole point, isn’t it?”
Ray pauses his irritated outburst for a moment.
“They always pay, don’t worry about that.”
“Right…” I say, feeling on edge.
“Let’s just find this animal and get out of here.”
The wind whisked around, but no clouds could be seen in the sky, nor the sky itself. Looking up was just white.
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No sounds could be heard, it was like a desolate wasteland.
Or maybe the helmet insulated that much of the sounds outside.
Stepping on the snow like ground felt even more peculiar, without any sort of crunch, any sort of usual feedback of stepping on… anything else, really.
“Over there.” Ray’s sudden, staticky voice, makes me jump.
I peer to where he was pointing, a tree’s branches of white fluff bobbed up and down, as a moose, with pure white skin and fur, munched on it.
Even it, shed long strands of fur, which flew vertically from its slightest movement.
Strange blue glowing mushrooms, grew on it. It was hard to tell if they were actually a part of the creature, or living in symbiosis with it, though the shrooms covered its entire body with quite consistent spacing.
It would have had the perfect camouflage for the environment, if it didn’t possess the planet’s only non-white colors on its back.
They grew even in its bone crown, though its antlers weren’t very big for a moose.
With a silent hand sign, we carefully start to circle it from both sides.
It seems to be blissfully ignorant of our presence, even as we get closer to it.
In no time at all, I’m close enough to lasso it with my stick’s hoop.
It still keeps eating the mystery white off the tree, like we didn’t exist, so I take the chance.
Landing the hoop easily over its antlers and onto its thick neck, Ray follows and we tighten our ropes.
The animal turns its head to face me.
But it doesn’t look at me, for it had no eyes.
A patch of pure black small mushrooms, where one would have expected eyes, had fooled me from further away.
“What now? It… isn’t doing anything?”
That was way too easy?
We try to pull it along, but it doesn’t budge, its not exactly that heavy, but its feet dig into the soft ground, as do ours when we try to pull it.
“Well, he told us to press the button, right?” Ray says and his thick gloved thumb moves to press it.
White and blue electricity crackles around the hoop and the animal stomps its legs and struggles.
We hold on to our sticks hard and try to get it back in control, it cries a dry and eerie sound, like a howl.
The noise is deafening in the total silence, echoing and reverberating around.
Even for its size, it wasn’t very strong, we hold it in place just fine with the two of us.
Once it calms down, it breaths out misty air from its near-blocked out nostrils on its snout, sending the tendril like fur flying from in front of it, and disturbing the white particles in the air.
We try pulling again, the moose follows obediently this time, like a well behaved dog on a leash.
Finding back to the ship was easy, the metallic gray and black, contrasted hard against the white-void.
Though it takes some time to drag the strange moose with us.
Did it even know what was happening?
Maybe it just accepted that some unseen forces had decided to lead it?
Succumbed to follow them obediently wherever it needed to go after that shock?
...
As we arrive through the airlock with our quarry in tow, Chode turns to us on his pilot chair.
“I could hear the howl all the way from here.” He smiles, turning back on his pilot seat and continuing:
“Take a seat and hold it still for the trip. Oh and keep your helmets on.” Chode one now too, for some reason.
We’re supposed to hold it by ourselves? With just our hands and these sticks?
Looking at Ray, he seemed unfazed, or just hid it well.
Or maybe; it wasn’t his first time holding something in place, in such an uncouth way.
Thankfully Chode at least knows to make our ascent much more gradual so the moose stays upright, only having to adjust itself a few times.
Even the rattling of the ship didn’t seem to faze it…
Was it deaf as well as blind?
…
We dock with the main ship through the airlock.
We stop in it for much longer than last time, the reason soon clear, as disinfectant washes us down from the ceiling.
The moose at least has retained its sense of touch, as it panics.
We hold it still with the sticks, as it shrieks pitifully and tries to wrestle free.
Numerous white flakes pour off its fur, pooling on the floor before disappearing down the drain.
The white long stretches of fur and the mushrooms stay on even through the wash.
Somehow, it looked even more miserable than before, its fur wet and flattened against its body.
The door opens and lets us back into the ship, we drip slightly, despite the drying process after.
Jave turns on his pilot chair to observe us, only now I notice that he has a dark blue eyepatch covering his right eye.
Revealed with the light shining through the windshield just right.
Chode quickly steps past us and opens the cage’s door for us, we lead the animal inside with our sticks, release the hoops and take them out.
It doesn’t try to escape, or even move after we let go of it, like it was lost without our guidance.
He closes the cage, sealing it inside, then pulls a lever on the wall, the cage’s gaps get covered with white crackling energy.
The whiteness of the two seemed to compete with each other, but the moose was a clear winner regardless.
It continued to shed white flakes, which fluttered in the air like dandelion seeds, or some sort of spores, all around it.
Any that hit the cage get zapped and vaporized with a quiet crackle.
We take off our suits, already dry, for they were of a material that allowed basically nothing to stick to it.
Though, as I take off the spacesuit, my finger goes through a hole in the armpit.
I cringe and covertly see if anyone noticed.
Certainly nothing good would come from me telling them that I had broken their equipment.
If they used it without checking their state again, it’d be on them.
But… when had it broken? It must have somehow ripped in the shuttle?
I would have certainly noticed a depressurization on the planet, right?
Or maybe when we calmed the moose in the airlock.
Ehh whatever, just gotta quickly set this back to its place.
Once we all get the suits off us, we strap ourselves onto our seats and a quiet trip back to Metropolis follows.
As the ship lands, I anxiously rise up, wondering what I’m supposed to do or say after a job like this.
Ray rises too, I just follow his lead, down the slope of the back of the ship, they opened up for us.
Ray gives a small wave to them as we go, I mimic the action.
As we walk out and off the slope, it rises and closes after us, but the ship does not take off.
“Wasn’t so bad, right?”
“I suppose so… all things considered.”
I concede to him, with clammy hands and a racing heart.
“One step closer, we’ve got half a year’s rent saved up… this should probably cover for our long lasting equipment…”
“Still got to scrounge enough for the medicine and other once-only supplies. And then find a suitable place to set up.”
“Right, not long now!” I hype up our success, feeling hopeful for the future we forged ourselves.
Soon, we would be able to ditch the Zoo work as well, be real Veterinarians and… whatever the alien equivalent would be called.
“Yeah!” Ray answers, uncharacteristically openly pumped.
"Just got to survive work tomorrow, or... today I suppose..." I shield my eyes with my hand, gazing at the horizon, the sun already on the rise.
"Who needs sleep anyway?" Ray smacks me on the shoulder.
"A small price to pay for success."
----------------------------------------
Though, a lucky streak wasn’t meant to last forever. A phone call, a few days later, in the middle of work would change it all.
“Frank Sinett.” I answer the unknown number.
“This is the Metropolitan Main Hospital. Have I reached the son of Eicel and Hyon Sinett?” A deep and seasoned, but a womanly voice asks.
“Y-yeah?” I stab the shovel down and concentrate on the conversation.
“I apologize for my bluntness, but would you be able to come visit the hospital today.”
“W-what? Why?”
“We have just taken them into critical care, about ten minutes ago.”
I still remember the feeling, when I heard those words. I couldn't comprehend what I had just heard.
How could they be in the hospital? I just saw them this morning and they were fine, healthy.
But it was nothing for what came next.
“We fear, they may not last much longer. If at all possible, please come say your goodbyes, while you still can.”
This isn’t real.
“I understand, this must be a shock... But, I personally wanted to let you know, when there was still a chance.”
I gasp for breath and grasp at my chest. Ray dashes to support me, grabbing my shoulder, even he looked worried.
“Are you there?”
...
“Please hurry.”
With shaking hands, I feel like my grip could crush the communicator in my grasp, finally I answer her resolute:
“I’ll be there.”
...
Indescribable worry and anger fill my being as I end the call.
“Ray, I have to go.”
----------------------------------------
Few days later.
“What was wrong with them?” Ray asks me on the phone.
“They don’t know… some strange disease.”
“That’s terrible…”
I tap my foot on the floor and clasp my fingers on the wooden table, one after the other.
Sitting, waiting in the hospital hallways, for yet another operation to finish.
“Regardless of that, how are they?”
“Holding on… but all the doctors have managed to do so far, is just putting off the inevitable.”
Some sort of steady rumble, a low clatter sounds from Ray’s end.
“What’s that, where are you?”
“It’s just the metro, in light of recent events, I decided to visit my parents for a few days too.”
“Right, have fun. It’s been a while since your last visit there, hasn’t it?”
“Yeah, reception might be bit bad there, so don’t worry if you can’t reach me.”
“Right, they live far in the countryside.”
I feel myself pulled into the conversation easily, but reality seeps back into my mind, through the gaping gaps of silence.
“Take care Frank, gotta go now.”
“Yeah, you take care too. Later.”
I pocket the communicator and fail at relaxing, until a nurse arrives.
"Are you Frank Sinett?" The seasoned veteran of the field asks, I recognize her voice from the phone.
“Yeah.”
“I’ve got some forms for you to fill… they’re about your parents…”
----------------------------------------
On a new planet, in an unknown facility, I snoop around.
Darkness surrounds me, as I look for their computer room, or any sort of records.
Getting in was easier than I thought, you would think security was more strict in a place like this.
Cold iron muzzle presses onto my back, as I was about to enter the door labeled as 'lab'.
“Who are you? What are you doing here?”
I hadn’t heard his approach at all. I curse my earlier thoughts.
“I am looking for Ray… Ray Fiscer. Who I am isn’t important.”
“What makes you think you could find this ‘Ray’ in here, of all places.” The irritable voice asks me.
“A ship he was on docked here, a few days ago.”
“Hmm… Is that so?”
The barrel shoves me on the back.
“Why do you want to find him?”
Should I really tell the truth to this stranger threatening me?
…
Do I have a choice?
“He ran away with all of the savings of our business. I need to find him.”
It feels like the gun bores a hole through my back even without firing a thing, as I wait for him to respond.
“I understand. If you help me, I am sure I can help you.”
“W-what do you need?”
“Do you perhaps have experience in animal handling?”
“What? Yeah… I do.”
“As it happens, I am looking for a recently vacated position to be filled.”
“Well… as it happens too, I am in the market for work. Though I do need more compensation than just the information.”
“Hah. I wasn’t going to exploit you that much, of course I’ll pay fairly.”
The gun is drawn from my back.
“Come on, turn around then.”
A pudgy man faces me, his head steadily loosing the last shreds of his hair. He greets me, with a held out arm.
Confused, I shake his rugged and thick hand.
“Rocco Crondeston, good to have you with us.” He seems a little too pleased with himself.
“Frank Sinett, when do I start?”
“How about now? I will look into your ‘friend’ right away too.” He looks around.
“Ahem, you there, show this newbie around and to his new station as a Wildlife Generalist.”
A man in camouflage clothes and a rifle jogs to me, as Rocco leaves.
The man’s silver eyes reveal a glint of friendliness, unlike the rest of his demeanor.
“The name’s Jack.” He offers a hand, which I shake with dawning regret, as his firm grip almost crushes my fingers.
He lets go and adjusts his cap.
“If it wasn’t for Rocco’s curiosity, I would have shot you already. Been on your tail ever since you entered.”
“Oh… Well, I thank you for not taking the initiative.”
“Anyway, come with me, I’ll show you around inside of the facility. After that, Jill can take you on tour for the outer buildings.”
----------------------------------------
Days passed, I got acquainted with my work, closer to my calling than the last work, but all of the animals were still in cages.
I couldn't hang around here too long.
Each day I asked, but Rocco kept on talking in circles, some days it was: “Just a bit longer, I’ll find him soon."
On others, he was waiting on a call to know more, for logs of transit, paperwork to peruse.
After a week, I had enough, threatening to quit, Rocco finally said it.
“I’m sorry… Frank. I really have been looking into Ray this whole time.
The ship he was in did indeed stop here to refuel, their objective and destination after that remain unknown, however.
They turned their trackers off as soon as they breached the atmosphere, nobody has any knowledge of them since.
I’ve emailed, called, talked to countless people across the galaxy, but there is no trace of them.”
“Really? Why did you go through all that trouble?”
“Apart from keeping a promise and doing right by my staff? I do have a personal stake here too, but that’s enough of that.”
Rocco takes out a tablet and a special touchscreen pen.
“Well, how about we make this official, I’ll continue to keep an ear out for them, I mean, Ray.
Meanwhile, you can keep on working here.”
___________________________________________________________
Frank wakes up from damp, sweaty sheets.
Reliving the past again…
Ray… where did you disappear off to?
Feeling like he didn't get even a wink of sleep, he holds his misty head.
Falling back asleep felt like an insurmountable obstacle, regardless of his tired state.
Frank gets up, silently sneaking past Amethyst’s bed in the pitch black room, lighting his way with the light of his communicator.
She was laying on the bed, like in a coffin, her body perfectly still.
Hands crossed over her chest symmetrically, long elbow blades extending outside the bed’s borders.
For this reason, Frank already had developed a habit of getting off his bed on the left side instead.
Her legs pointed every which way, some off the bed, touching the ground, or sideways.
The bed couldn't really service those large legs well, but… she wasn’t even that tall really, if you didn’t account for them.
So other than that, she fit in just fine.
Frank realizes something.
Did the Tyrchids just lay on the hard wooden floor of their hole homes in the trees?
Surely not?
But how come she’s sleeping like this?
It’s probably more comfortable in a bed than sleeping while standing?
Maybe I’ll ask her about it later.
Frank manages to tiptoe to the door and sneak through, his plan: a shower to freshen up, to wash away the stains of the past.
And clean, normal smelling clothes to prepare for whatever surprises the second day of filming, was sure to throw their way.
----------------------------------------