“It all started about four months ago.” I began. “I was going to Paragon Institute of Technology for an engineering degree, when I got a call from my dad. It turns out he just discovered he had stage four pancreatic cancer. The doctors said he only had four months to live... He’s still here, but he’s very weak. The chemo hasn’t helped – and now, with all the medical bills, we’re probably going to lose the house, he’s still going to die, and I’ll be all alone.”

“That’s not an easy row to hoe.” Walter said kindly.

“It’s not. I’ve been going to see him every day, as often as I can – I had to drop out of school to take care of him – and I got a job at a restaurant to help pay the bills. I got fired two or three days ago – I forget when – and then things got really weird. I tried to visit dad, and had a major panic attack so bad I couldn’t go back inside, so I drove, and I drove, and eventually I just parked and tried to forget everything. I got drunk. I passed out. When I woke, it was morning, and I was sober – but a mess. I started to drive home – and a freaking meteor hits the ground in front of my car.”

I took a ragged breath, and continued. “There was something in the crater – a pod, with a voice calling for help and some kind of golden goop. I didn’t think, and I went down into the crater to see if anyone needed help – and the goop grabbed me, and that’s the last I knew. I woke up later, and the goop was gone – I was soaked – and all that was left was the pod it arrived in. I didn’t know if it had infected me with something, or what, so I drove into town, and figured I’d better visit my dad, in case I got sick next.”

Walter looked like he didn’t know what to say, but he held his peace, and let me continue.

“Anyway, the visit went okay – but dad noticed I looked like hell, and eventually he fell asleep and I went home. For the next two days I did nothing but eat, sleep and go to the bathroom – as the stuff inside me began to change me. My name is Jason – and here’s what I looked like three days ago.” I said, handing him my drivers license, which now bore only a passing resemblance to me. “Apparently the goop was an alien symbiote that also seems to be one of the Norse Valkyries, and she told me the ancient gods we all used to worship before Christianity and other modern religions came around, are real, and live out in space, on other worlds.”

“So the gods are aliens?” Walter asked.

“I’m not sure. Maybe, but they’re also something else. They have powers – and so do the Valkyries. My Valkyrie is called Sigrid, or Siri for short. She says I might be able to use her powers to heal my dad’s cancer – but to do it I might have to bond further with her... which will have side effects.”

“What kind of side effects, kiddo?”

“Being turned into a woman, completely, instead of what I am now... It would give me access to all her powers – but presumably I’ll also have to help get her home to report what happened to her people. They’re at war with another alien race – and this morning, about an hour or two before I met you, a dozen of them tried to kill me.”

Walter nodded. “I’m guessing you got away?”

“Not exactly. Valkyries are warrior angels from the Norse pantheon – the gods of ancient Norway, Sweden and Scandinavia. She lent me her skills in battle, and I... I killed most of them. The rest ran away. I... I never killed anything bigger than a mosquito in my life, and today I killed eight, maybe nine alien people. I’m changing in ways I never wanted, and to save my dad I might have to change even more. I have no idea what to do. Is it wrong to want the world to stop for a little bit, and let me off, at least until I can handle it better?”

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“I think that’s natural, Jace.” Walter replied. “First, I want to say I believe you. We live in a damn world where people can pick up and throw tanks, or walk through walls, or mind control people from across a city. An alien bonding with a person and giving them powers, well – that just seems par for the course, doesn’t it? I’m really sorry about your dad, son, and I’m sorry about mistaking you for a girl in the car. Can I ask for a moment to think? You kind of spilled a lot on me all at once, and I need some time to think about it.”

“Sure. Our food is going to be here in a moment anyway.”

“They why don’t we eat, while I think on what you said, and enjoy the food in quiet. We’ll hash this out together afterwards.”

“Sounds good.” I replied, smiling. Venting had made me feel a bit better.

A few minutes later, Lindsay returned with our trays of food, setting it down. “Do either of you want some tea or coffee with that?”

“I’ll take a coffee.” I said.

“No problem, Miss. I’ll be right back.”

I sighed. I was starting to see why transgender people were so pissed off about being misgendered all the time. It was annoying.

“You know, she means well.” Walter said, seeing me sigh.

“Yeah, I know. It’s an accident – not cruelty. Let’s eat.”

We both tucked into our food – and the pancakes and syrup were just what I needed... the doughy, sweet sticky mess hit the spot, and matched with the salty, meaty grease of the sausage and the tart sweet crispiness of the toast it was almost divine. It felt like the best food I’d eaten in months. I drained my orange juice, and by the time it was gone, Lindsay had come and dropped off my coffee, leaving creamers and sugar behind in a bowl. I prepped my coffee – two milks, two sugars – and sipped it slowly. I could almost feel the caffeine and the life seep back into my veins, warming me at the same time. Walter had finished his breakfast too, and was watching me.

“That was an amazing breakfast, Walter. Thank you.”

“My pleasure, Jason.” He said, smiling at me. “The way I see it, you’ve got a chance to save your dad – and still stay mostly as you are. I think you should take it. A lot of guys look soft like you, and still live okay lives. You’re still you – and believe it or not, there’s a large number of women who would love to spend time with you, romantically, if you take my meaning. The worlds a strange place – and everyone has someone out there. Still, if the power Siri gave you isn’t enough, I guess you’re going to have to make a choice – and a pretty hard one at that. I don’t know what you should do, but if an angel came down and said I could have Becky and my grandkids back, well, I’d be spending the rest of my life as their second grandma, and Becky and I would be little old ladies together.”

“I’m not sure what I can say about the aliens and the killing. I spent twelve years as a US Marine when I was a younger man. Some men and women are warriors – and some aren’t. For some the killing is a duty – but for some it comes a little too easy, if you know what I mean. It’s a hard thing to take a life, son – but it’s harder seeing others die, when you know you could have stopped it, if you made the hard choice. It’s a sacrifice we make – as warriors. We sacrifice our youth and our innocence on the altar of violent war – and in return the people we care about get to live quiet happy lives. It isn’t always fair – and sometimes it takes more than we’re willing to give – but it is a life of honor and service. There are worse ways to live, in my opinion – but it does take a toll. If you can’t do it, you need to be honest with yourself about it, and find another way.”

“Does it get easier? Fighting? Killing?” I asked sadly.

“It gets easier, yeah... But if you’re sane and normal like most people, it never gets easy, if you know what I mean. If you can ever kill a dozen men, and think literally nothing of it, you might have a serious problem. I don’t think I see that in you.”

“Thanks. I don’t know what to do.”

“Well, your dad is still with us, right? Talk to your dad, and tell him everything, like you did me. Hopefully it will help you decide what to do, son. Life is hard – but it’s beautiful too. Don’t give up on it without a fight. I take it there’s no mom in the picture?”

“No, sir. When the going got tough, she left.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Jason. You going to be okay now?”

“I think so, sir. I feel better now that I’ve let it out.”

“Good lad.” Walter replied. “What does this Siri have to say about all this? She can talk to you somehow, right?”

“Yeah. I can hear her in my mind – like telepathy. We’ve talked, but I think I needed to hear it from someone else, you know. She and I were too close to it.”

“I understand, kiddo. Glad I could help.”

“Hey, Walter?” I asked. “In case I need to talk again, could I get your number, and maybe give you a call?”

“Sure thing, Jason – although next time how about you buy breakfast?”

I smiled and held out my hand to shake. “Deal!”

* * *

After, I sat in my car, just thinking about what had happened. Walter had given me a kind ear, and some perspective. “You still listening, Siri?”

*Yes, Jason. Are you feeling a bit better?*

“Yeah, I am. I think it’s time to go see dad.”

*Are you alright to drive?*

“Yeah, I think so. Breakfast really helped, and so did talking to Walter. I think I made a friend today.”

*I think you did.* Siri replied.

I buckled up, and turned the key in the ignition. It was time to go see dad, and explain the fustercluck of the last 72 hours. And heal him if I could. Failure wasn’t an option. I put the car in gear, and began the drive to Dad’s hospice.