5

LOVE FACE FIRST AND NEW JOBS

We watched a show about a hairless alien race, from a far away system that wanted to convert everyone in their universe to a one god religion. They would kill anybody who didn't convert and renounce their own pagan beliefs. As the aliens saw it, they were saving the other poor races. Sound familiar? Makes me worry… Especially as I have since verified that the radio transmissions that the news anchor had been talking about were from Earth. As of this writing, they haven’t decided if they are going to send a ship or a probe.

In the morning, Kate said she had the day off so she asked me what I wanted to do. I answered her and got slapped for it, gently and no claws mind you, but I did deserve it. So I asked her if she knew Earth. She did so I told her to show me her world. She said that she would love to but, I couldn't walk around looking as I did. Not being feline and all which made sense after watching that movie and some research on the net about the regulations for aliens away from spacer town.

Kate said Tory could help with that and said he owed me for my present situation. This sounded as good as anything. So we got dressed, and she led me to the front door. I was about to say something when she silenced me. She pulled out a key like the one I had seen Little Joe use. She slipped it in the lock, and hum-flash, she opened the door not on a cityscape, but Joe's.

This I was not ready for and it must have been written all over my face. Kate started laughing. Big Joe looked our way and started laughing. Tory was grinning from ear to ear, and on him, that shows a lot of sharp teeth and I could hear Little Joe, but I couldn't see him.

Regaining some of my composure, I picked up my jaw and walked in. Kate still snickering followed me. Once in the bar I finally found Little Joe, rolling on the floor in stitches. Must have been the funniest thing he had seen in his long little life. He didn't recover for 10 minutes. Even then when ever he looked at me for a week afterward, he would start to giggle.

"How the hell?!?" I said after regaining my composure.

"What?" asked Kate, still snickering at me.

This was all starting to get on my nerves. I didn't think it was funny. "How did I get from your apartment to Joe's? When I used your front door a few hours ago, I found a city beyond it."

"I... It... My?..... Oh hell. Tory!" she finally said in desperation. She has no more idea of how the door at Joe's works than I do. Sometimes, you just have to accept it.

"Yes Kate?" he responded with amusement at her obvious discomfort.

"Help!" It was more of a mewl than a word, but it spoke volumes.

Laughing. "Alright. I'll pull your tail out of the fire. Come over here Kyle, we need to talk anyway."

"What?" I asked, confused by the whole thing, including the outraged look on Kate's face which was directed at Tory.

"Come here Kyle. We really do need to talk." Smiling in his usual and irritating, all knowing way.

"Really? Whatever would give you a crazy idea like that?" Walking over, he led me to a corner booth. It had one glass of a glowing blue-green liquid on it. Sitting behind it he motions me to join him. So I sit not sure what to make of things, and still not completely convinced that I wasn't completely insane.

"So Kyle, what have you decided?" he asked. Direct and to the point, as usual I wasn't expecting that. I am learning a new skill. Not trying to anticipate things where Tory is concerned. It is harder than it sounds.

"It's all real as far as I can tell. However, it needs some serious explanations." Glancing at Kate. "Otherwise I will not be able to deal with it, and it will all take on that surreal aspect again." I was very sure I did not want it to stop anymore.

"I see. So you are saying that should you stop seeing all these outlandish things." leaning back and taking a drink.

Nodding to myself I said. "They would quickly begin to seem like some wild, psychedelic dream."

"Huh. Well now you have a decision to make." He smiled.

"What's that?" I asked, looking up from my study of his drink.

"First let me ask you this. You are a writer. Correct?" Leaning forward and looking directly at me, in that most uncomfortable manner of his. He seems to look right through you. Despite his behavior, and all the aliens I have met at this point, there is something beyond just alien about him. I think it's his age.

"Sort of, I have never been able to come up with a viable story, I've plenty of imagination, lots of ideas, but not the inspiration to put them to use." Shaking my head in resignation.

"I see...." he looked over to where Kate was talking to Kap, Cal, and Markus. "You must decide Kyle."

"Decide what?" Returning his stare as best I could.

Smiling at me. "Do you want to return to earth and your normal life? Or would you like to stay in this whacked out world?"

His question set me on edge. "What do you mean? You can reach this place from anywhere." Pausing a moment to think as the fact that Kate used a key to get here just like Joe did that first night. "Can't you?"

"I can. The other owners, employees, certain regulars can. But let me ask you this. Do you care for her?" Motioning towards Kate.

"Kate?" I came back to reality, such as it is for that question. "I think I am in love with her. But how can she return such a feeling?" I was so absorbed in my thoughts. I didn't see Kate straighten up slightly, and look our way for a moment and smile, before returning to her conversation.

"I don't think you need to worry much about that. However, if you return to your old life." Taking on a very serious tone. "You will never see her or this place for the rest of you life."

"But how can I stay? What would I do in a place like this?" Feeling desperate, I wanted to stay with all my being but couldn't think of a way how to. Looking over at Kate, my heart dropping a bit at the thought of losing her, and that made my decision for me before I even knew I had options.

Smiling again. "You said you were a writer, of what?"

Turning back to face him. "I want to write science fiction."

"Look around you Kyle. You are in a room full of material." Motioning around the bar.

Shaking my head in confusion, as much at the realization of what I was about to say as the truth of it. "But it is all real."

"Yes. But, tell me this. How much of what you have already learned would sell as fiction?" He was still smiling. I felt like I was being led to the conclusion he wanted me to reach, which I was, but I didn't care, as long as I got to stay.

Thinking for a moment. "I'd say a bestseller, or at least the Times top ten."

Nodding to my statement. "Then it sounds like you have something to do. Doesn't it?"

"Yes but. Where would I find the time? What about my job?" then realizing what I had said. "My Job!?!"

"Don't worry. You can leave here as little as a second or so after you left if needed, Joe's lies outside of normal space and time. That is what gives Joe's its advantage." Smiling to himself this time.

Trying to grasp at anything, I felt like I was drowning. "I see. From what I can tell, those keys I have seen you people using are how you get here. So all of your patrons have one of them?"

Shaking his head. "Partially correct, only a few special individuals have a key. The staff, owners, and partners like me, and a few others have them. Most people have to go to what you would call an outlet, of which there are many. They are permanent access points to Joe's. There are also a few roving doors that keep things interesting, they appear for short periods of time on worlds without normal outlets."

"Okay. But that still doesn't tell me how I am going to make enough money to live." This still wasn't making sense. I couldn't figure out what he was talking about.

"But, it does." Smiling at me and leaning forward like he had a secret to tell. "You're a writer. All you have to do is charge people to write their story. Then publish it as fiction on earth, and non-fiction in other places. If you become a part of the thing that is Joe's, you will have access to worlds far more vast than just Earth."

"Charge?" the rest of his statement didn't sink in.

"Yes. Charge." smiling triumphantly.

OF STORIES AND LOVE

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

So I started mulling all this over. Did I love Kate? Yes. When did that happen? What if she doesn't love me in return? Does it matter? No. Okay then. I would take people's stories and make them pay me to do it. Will they care if it is sold as fiction in places like Earth? Likely not, besides there are bound to be places where they would sell as the biographies they are. Am I actually going to go through with this? Yep. So now what? Ask Tory. It was his idea. I guess what he had said did sink in, just not consciously.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

First I had to figure out what to charge. "So, Tory. How much should I charge?"

He smiled, probably because I had taken the bait, not that he had to work very hard. I was desperate. "My suggestion, start with a payment at the beginning. A commissioning fee if you will. Then a fee after the book has been published, as well as a split of the royalties. 70\30 your favor, you are doing the work after all."

Nodding, though I had different ideas of fair pricing. "I was thinking more like 80\20."

Sitting back at my statement. "You're a shark."

Smiling at him in return. "I'm the one that is going to have to live off the money. Not the person I am writing for."

"Point taken." He then reached for the table. I thought he was going for his drink.

Now I needed to let people know I was there. "So. How do I get people interested, and how do I let them know of my fee's."

Drumming his fingers on the table. "You put up an ad on the bulletin board."

"What bulletin board?" looking around the bar.

I hadn't noticed, but the table also had those inlaid patterns. Tory's finger drumming had actually been tapping on them inducing another of those displays to pop out of the table right in front of me. I jumped back in my seat.

It said ‘Bulletin Board' across the top, and had several categories to chose from. Tory said, "It's a touch screen." So I touched the category ‘Jobs.' The thing seemed to sense your preferred language and shift the text accordingly. One of the many mysteries of Joe's. I really should do a story about Joe's itself and how it actually works, assuming I can get Tory to spill on enough of the details.

The screen changed to a list of categories under the title ‘Jobs.' Including mercenaries wanted, assassins and assassinations, smuggling services, shipping, traders, and other. I chose other. It then asked if I was looking for a job or leaving one. I decided I was leaving one. A small microphone extended or rather extruded from the side of the screen. I was then instructed to give a short description of the job.

I started speaking. "My name is Kyle Durlow. I am a writer offering my services to interested parties. I charge 15,000 standard credits as a commissioning fee, and 50,000 upon publication, both non-refundable regardless of sales. As well as a 75\25 split, my favor, of all sales and royalties. If interested contact Big Joe or leave a message and method of contact. My primary service is in the area of biographies, though I will consider all commissions. Thank you."

I honestly hadn't the faintest idea what to say. I read that. Tory wrote it out in the air in floating letters of ethereal blue flame. It's not the only time I have seen him do something like that and probably won't be the last knowing him. The flames in his eyes were flickering as if fanned, and he had this mischievous, puck like smile on his face.

Getting an idea. "Hey Tory."

"Hey what." He knew what I was going to say, had planned the whole thing out from shortly after I first met him, and yet he still managed to sound innocent. I know this because he has admitted as much to me, although he swears up and down that he didn't know ahead of time what was going to happen.

"You interested?" I asked somehow knowing how he would answer.

"Interested in what?" The smile on his face convinced me I was right about his knowing, but I played it off.

"Interested in getting your story written?" I asked smiling at him.

"Well I'm not sure. It would take a lot of paper to print it." Smiling to himself. I could tell he was testing me on my sales pitch.

I decided to press my luck as usual, to hell with a sales pitch, I was desperate at that moment. "Please. I really don't think you would have suggested the idea otherwise."

"I was only trying to help." Still sounding completely unaware of what I was talking about.

A viable story, but I pressed. "Okay, but are you interested?"

"Well. I am such an old bastard. It would take a whole series to tell it to the present, and that would only be a small sampling. Leaving out all the boring and mundane stuff." frowning as he thought back.

"Fine, then what about a Day in the Life kind of thing, you don't spend all of your time here do you?" Trying anything I could think of, I didn't think at that time that I could have worked with anyone else. At least not yet.

Shrugging his shoulders. "I actually get to spend a lot less time here then I would like."

"I see, so how about it?" Smiling as warmly as I could.

Grinning again, he had that predatory look again. "Sure. It sounds interesting. When do you want to start?"

I hadn't been expecting him to accept that quickly. "Give me a few day to get myself together. I need to get my head on straight before I can think about the inside of someone else's." Trying to buy myself some time, it worked.

Taking another drink of that blue-green liquid of his. "Sounds good, that will give me the time to arrange a few things. That way I have the time to work with you." He continued to smile.

"One thing, where is the outlet for Joe's on Earth? So I can get back here." Then thinking for a moment about how I got there in the first place. "There is an outlet on Earth? Isn't there?"

Shaking his head no. "Not in your time, not for several centuries at least, so you're going to need a key."

That confused me a bit, what did I need with a Key. "Why?" He smiled looking at me over his drink. It seemed to feel as if more was being poured into it. Though all I could see was him, the glass, and its contents.

"So you can keep up with the version of me who's hired you."

Raising an eyebrow. "That makes no sense Tory."

He looked at me knowingly for the hundredth time. "It will in time, but more importantly. It will keep you from running into yourself. You see, time here at Joe's is essentially static; it doesn't change in relation to the outside multi-verse. With a key, even if you aren't using it when you come here, such as entering through an outlet. You'll always be assured of entering Joe's after the last time you left."

After thinking about that for a moment, that sounded like a good idea. "That would be good I suppose. I don't think I could handle running into myself." Then wondering about how I was going to record what I see. "Do you have access to portable computers? Or should I buy one while I am at home?"

He took a long drink that nearly emptied the glass, yet it was full by the time it landed back on the table. "I will provide you with a functional computer as part of the deal, and it will help you hit your feet running." He looked to his right towards Joe's at large.

The idea of him giving me a computer gave me this crawling feeling up and down my spine. "Why does that frighten me? How much of the initial is that going to cost me?" Then thinking about it. "Or am I going to owe you money?"

Looking back at me, he got this hurt look on his face. "I'm not going to charge you. It's a gift."

From behind and to my left I heard Kate. "A gift? Tory, be honest. You never give anything for free, unless you are going to get something out of it."

"Kate. How can you say such a thing?" sounding hurt, but you could tell he wasn't.

"Come off it Tory. This bar, many of the regulars here, and I have been down that road with you. Either you did something that you decided was going too far. Or you are going to do something, and you are making up for it in advance." I turned to see her walking our direction.

"A little of both." he responded looking back into his drink thoughtfully.

I was lost and feeling suddenly cut out of the conversation. "Excuse me. But what are you two talking about?"

Kate sat beside me. "Simple. The fuzz ball here is a creature of balance. He can be amazingly cruel and destructive. Then walk down the street and cure a sick child or save a life. All depending on his mood, and as long as it maintains balance. A balance to what I am still not sure."

This was getting weird. "Sound's crazy to me. Why would someone be such a variance of things?"

She put her arm around my waist as she scooted up next to me in the booth. "Crazy is his middle name. Look up contradiction in terms, or oxymoron and you will find his picture attached to the definition." Glaring across the table at him.

"So you are saying that he is a living contradiction, having to do both good and evil in turn." I said. My head was spinning.

"I am no such thing." He seemed quite indignant and this time he actually sounded hurt.

"No you aren't are you. But, I haven't figured out what you are, yet." She continued to glare at him.

Turning to look at her directly. "So where does that leave me? Or us Kate?"

Looking at me, her nose just and inch or so from mine. "That leaves him to give you 15,000 credits in your native currency, as well as the necessary paperwork so you don't go to prison or have it seized by your government, and to write up the contract you'll be using for these books. That way you will also have one ready for this book." Looking at Tory again.

"Okay. But..." I stammered, losing myself in her green eyes.

"Here." Tory said, setting several piles of money on the table. "That's $120,000 in cash, and the proper documentation."

"Good. Anything else?" I said trying to keep up with things and staring at the pile of cash.

"Yes, I'll see you in a few days Kyle. I'll arrange that key for you. Just ask Big Joe as you leave. Bye Kate." He said bye Kate, with sorrow in his voice. He then got up from the table and walked off with his drink of glowing liquid towards the bar. He handed Big Joe his drink and vanished. He was just there one moment and then not. This seemed to have taken Joe off guard. Since he jumped back and looked around wildly. Then popped up one of the displays and began tapping at it wildly.

So I looked at Kate and asked. "What's with him?"

Looking over towards where he had been. "I remind him of someone he loved a very long time ago."

"She's dead, isn't she?" I said, examining the wavy fur on the back of her neck.

"I don't know, but it seems that way." Turning to look back at me.

"So where do we go from here? Where does that leave us?" I asked.

"That leave me to do this." She stood up, pulling me out of the booth with her and planted a kiss on me that curled my toes, straightened all the hair on my body, and got a few looks and hoots of approval. "And it leaves us to go get your key, get me a disguise, and go handle your affairs on Earth. I haven't been on Earth in a long time. From there we can head to Talloon so I can show you my world."

"......" I had no idea how to respond. I was in shock from that kiss, because it had been more than a simple kiss. I just didn't understand enough at the time to recognize what it was.

"For that matter, I have never been to your time period. I want you to show me around." Licking the tip of my nose. That really drives me crazy, even now, and she does it because of that.

~

So, I guess that this brings me up to the actual beginning of the story, sort of. I guess the literal beginning was running into Little Joe. I really don't know if there is an end to it, but I'll do my best to find a functional one, at least for the purposes of actually trying to make a book out of this experience. Anyway, on with it already, Kate won't be finished with that negotiation for hours yet.

We left Joe's after getting a fairly normal looking house key from him, the only odd part about it being a gem imbedded in it, but that could be mistaken for one of those vanity keys. When we walked through the door of Joe's I found we were right where I started, only at about noon. Kate was wearing a holographic disguise called a 4Dgram. They said it was a hologram that had substance, all I know is that she put on a belt and earrings, turned the belt on, shimmered for a moment and was suddenly a beautiful blond human. I was convinced.

It was a Friday night when this all started. I had been gone for over about a week all told. It was Sunday when we walked out of Joe's, meaning I had somehow traveled backwards in time relative to the time I had spent in Joe's and on Kate's world. Still don't quite understand how it's done. I really ought to pin down a physicist and see if they can explain it, something about temporal energy states. We spent the afternoon sightseeing. You never really appreciate something until you see it through the eye's of someone who has a completely different perspective.

Monday I told my boss off. Let me tell you; that felt so good. I then took my car in, okay, I actually had it towed and bought a new one. I opened a new bank account and paid my taxes. On Tuesday I found a new apartment, a really nice one, and paid it for a full year, and I still had a bit of money left.

After that we went to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Her reactions were mixed, just like mine always were. Though after seeing the Lion's I think she understood why I reacted to her toothy grin a bit better.

On Wednesday I bought new furniture and took what few things I wanted from my old place. We made love all night and at about noon on Thursday I used my key for the first time.

I slipped it into the lock of my front door, just like I had seen Kate and Little Joe do. The same hum, flash occurred. I looked over my shoulder at her and then opened the door and walked back into Joe's. Someday I will get them to tell me how it works, but for now.