Chapter 12
“What’s a Waycaster,” Uhura asked.
“Like a Jedi, only nicer,” Bliss said.
“Not precisely nicer,” Harister said.
“So, you are finally going to do it,” Uhura said.
“Do what?” Harister asked.
“Mix Trek and Wars,” Uhura said.
“Not I,” Harister said.
“So you’re not going to make speech of how Lucas stole everything from Roddenberry,” Uhura asked.
“That argument is already out there,” Harister said.
“There is nothing new under the sun,” Summer said. “Which sun are referring to?” Sacagawea asked.
“There is also that,” Summer agreed.
“All suns also rise,” Harister said.
“Ha ha,” Bliss said. “Which reminds me. I want us to have lunch in Paris.”
“Oh, I want to go,” Sacagawea said.
“Count me in,” Jung said, drawing on his pipe, which was essential a vape that smelled like real tobacco. “So, back to the problem at hand,” Harister said.
“Well, if Orish mind fucked her, PTSD and DID is on the table,” Jung said. “From a metaphysical perspective, she could be confronting her own inner demons and still fall under the
DSM.”
“Give her a copy of the Red Book?” Harister asked.
“Or Campbell’s Hero with a Thousand Faces,” Jung said. “I can certainly guide her, but she has to walk the path. Shadow work can a take moment.” “Not as long Freudian Therapy,” Harister said.
“There is always sex therapy,” Bliss offered. “She seems open.” “Gauge that after she’s had a week’s worth of good sleep,” Jung said.
“So, no sex,” Bliss said.
“For at least a week,” Jung said.
“With her,” Harister clarified.
“So, you’re saying you want therapy?” Bliss asked.
“Always,” Harister said.
“Captain’s privilege?” Jung asked.
“The Captain is always privileged,” Sacagawea said.
“More than Kirk ever was,” Uhura agreed.
“Have you ever considered perhaps you would benefit from Jungian therapy?” Summer asked.
“You want him to sleep with Jung?” Bliss asked.
“Ha ha,” Harister said. Back to Summer: “I am engaged in Jungian therapy.” “How do you figure?” Jung asked.
“You recommend not running from the shadows, right?” Harister asked.
“I do,” Jung said.
“Well, unlike you, most of my demons have not come in scary form, but in the form of sexual blocks and distractions,” Harister said.
“Ahh,” Summer said. “So instead of running from the shadows, you fuck them?”
“There sexualized path to the light,” Bliss said. “Not everyone’s capable of navigating
it.”
“Why is that?” Uhura said.
“Because you have to fuck ugly,” Harister said.
“You mean like mean sex? Rough sex after an argument that become make up sex?” Sacagawea asked.
“Well, that, too, but no, I mean you can’t have a standard. You have to be willing to engage people you don’t find attractive, even aliens, and do it with genuine love and affection, meeting them in the eyes, if they have eyes,” Harister said. “Most people have standard.” “Most people want one partner,” Summer said.
“Or at least one at a time,” Uhura said.
“Well that would be limiting,” Bliss said. “No one lives forever, so, wouldn’t you want to help build the communities that will continue with your partners in your absence? You want them to just suddenly be cut off and have to over from scratch? That’s rather cold hearted, don’t you think.”
“All of your relationships are crazy based,” Sacagawea said. “You should come stay with
my people for a season, and allow us to cure you of your insanity.”
“Might have to do that,” Bliss said.
“Speaking of red doors. You mentioned pulling out my Red Book, maybe we should also pull up yours,” Jung said.
“I didn’t write one…”
“Your host did,” Bliss said. “Maybe if she red your host’s stuff…”
“She could know for a fact you come from crazy,” Sacagawea said. “Then tell her it’s a version of Roman à clef.”
“Nice,” Harister said.
“I was aiming for she’d have the keys to the map and shared language so we can communicate further,” Bliss said.
“Give her the tour,” Summer said.
“Take her to your home world,” Bliss said.
“No,” Harister said. “Not with Draconians sitting on her clone.” “Take her to Save Haven?” Bliss asked.
“They’d at least have the people that could get at the secrets she’s carrying,” Summer said.
“Unless they mess up and crack open her head with the wrong technique, and making any good information permanently irretrievable,” Bliss said.
“There is also that,” Summer said.
♫♪►
The tunnel smelled like nothing Emily had ever smelled before. She wanted to blow it up with Lysol, open windows, and let in sun. She had a sudden realization about social norms: if there was a smell in a public restroom, she would avoid going in out of fear someone would enter and think she made that smell. Here in dinosaur world, they owned their smell with pride. It was worse than sheets that had gone months without washing, sex and sweat and urine and poop and alcohol and vomit. And yet, the floor was clean. The walls were clean. The walls looked like solid rock. Emily was injected with something. Her eyes went to the raptor administering the injection. Her eyes teared up.
“And I didn’t get you anything,” Emily said.
Huawer’s soldiers handed Sluss and Watanabe weapons.
“And me?” Dusit asked.
“You are favored. You will never be given a weapon,” Huawer stated respectfully.
“Huawer,” Sluss said. It was clear he wanted to say something but didn’t know how to say it. “Please note, this a worry- not a complaint. I am not skilled enough of a hunter warrior to exercise the restraint of respect that I have seen you show on the hunt.”
Huawer lowered his head, eyeing from the right side. He spit out of the side of his mouth. All the soldiers spit. All four of the humans were covered. Emily laughed. Dusit complained, and was about to wipe his face but Watanabe slapped his hands down.
“I don’t expect you to,” Huawer said. “I expect you to survive. That’s order, soldier. Our scent will help for a moment.”
“Thank you for your essence, I wear it with honor,” Sluss said. “But you understand, I have feelings about this.”
“I am aware of your thoughts and feelings on this, brother,” Huawer said. “This has been the way of it since time immemorial. It is what it is. And now, you must walk.”
“I will seek to meet you again, brother, if not here, then on the other side,” Sluss said.
“Here or there, we are brothers,” Huawer said.
Sluss turned towards the hidden arc, and the field of purple, sparkly light.
“Minecraft!” Emily squealed. Sluss pushed her through.
“Minecraft?” Dusit asked. “What’s she…”
Watanabe pushed Dusit. They nodded and followed. On the other side of the veil, they were in a lush grassy area that could have been a nature park, minus sidewalks.
“…Talking about?” Sluss said.
“Home!” Emily shouted gleefully. She turned to a golden pylon and hugged it. “OMG! I knew it was real.”
“Come on,” Sluss said, pulling her along.
“Martial, Will, and Holly,” Emily began to sing the theme song from the original Land of the Lost.
“Can you shut her up?” Dusit asked.
“Won’t make any difference,” Watanabe said. “Keep up. Stay close. Packs tends to live longer.”
Dusit hustled to keep up, struggling to hop and remove high heels.
“Give me a weapon,” Dusit begged.
“Nope,” Sluss said.
“Because I am favored or because you don’t like me?!” Dusit asked.
“Because I am a bright shiny and they see and hear everything I do,” Sluss said. “If they’re not giving you a weapon, I sure as hell am not giving you a weapon.”
“Don’t look at me,” Watanabe said. “I may not be bright, but I am in the company of brightness.”
Emily laughed. “Rainbow brights. Rainbow Dash. Rainbow connection.” She began taking exaggeratedly slow, but huge steps. “Walking the mile, walking the green mile…” “Would you stop that,” Dusit begged. He stepped on something. “Ouch!”
Sluss took Emily’s arm to slow her to a stop. She hugged and kissed him. She made a sour face. “Brontosaurus breath.” He took his boots off and handed them to Dusit. “Put these on.
And if you ever wear heels again, I will kick your ass. Am I clear?” As Dusit slipped into the boots, Sluss removed his socks.
“I thought the path was supposed to be solid gold,” Dusit complained.
“It is,” Sluss said. He tracked the distant vegetation, the same thing caught his eye that Watanabe had seen. HE got them walking again.
“This is not gold,” Dusit said. “You’re using the wrong eyes,” Sluss said.
Dusit nearly quit walking. “You’re navigating with inner sight?”
“Virtual overlays,” Watanabe said. “We were given apps when we were elevated to brotherhood.”
“I want ruby slippers,” Emily said, pouting. Sluss took her arm and kept her moving.
“OMG, we are so not the ‘Wizard of Oz.’” He said. No one argued. “Are we?” “We’re way beyond the rainbow,” Watanabe said. “Good bye yellow brick road, where the dogs of society howl…” Emily said.
They were approaching a wall of wheat. The wheat was taller than corn, topped with golden, caramel nuggets of wheat.
“I prefer grape nuts over pine trees for breakfast,” Emily said, using a Texas drawl.
“How old is she?” Watanabe asked. “Twenty four,” Dusit said.
“No, for real. How old is she?”
“That is a really old reference,” Sluss said.
“What reference?” Dusit asked.
“Euell Gibbons,” Sluss said. “Watch more American broadcasts.” “Yeah. That Thai drama shit will rot you brain,” Watanabe said. “I like Thai dramas,” Dusit said. “Is there any other kind of Thai show?” “Talk shows,” Dusit said.
“Like identify the real LGBTQ. With sound affects stolen from American cartoons,” Sluss said.
“You watch Thai television?” Watanabe asked. “Wanted some insight into Dusit,” Sluss said.
“Find any?”
“Not yet,” Sluss said.
Sluss was slowing their forward progress.
“Want to go around?” Watanabe asked?
Sluss brought the group to a halt. He looked in both directions. Being still allowed him to feel the slight tremor of a distant heard of Brontosaurus Apatosaurus. If they were higher, they might have saw them in the distance. “The end result is going to be the same,” Sluss said.
“Through is quicker,” Watanabe agreed.
“Let’s get it over with,” Sluss said.
“Get what over with?” Dusit asked.
“Do you remember how I told you, when the doctor cut your penis off I fed it to the dinosaurs?” Sluss asked. “You’re a real dick,” Dusit said.
“Yeah, well, now they have taste for dick, and we’re lunch,” Sluss said.
“It was a really small dick,” Watanabe said. “Maybe they didn’t taste it.” “Fuck you, too,” Dusit said.
“I’m not into crazy,” Watanabe said. “But I’ll hook you up with Alexeev.” “Alexeev has standards,” Sluss said.
“A hole is a hole,” Watanabe said.
“That’s a standard,” Sluss argued.
“You’re going to bait me, aren’t you,” Dusit demanded.
“No, Dusit. We don’t leave men behind,” Wataneb said.
“Or whatever you are,” Sluss said.
Dusit was turning around, looking for the threat.
“Calm the fuck down. You won’t see it coming and there is nothing you can do it about but go with calm,” Sluss said. “They’re smart. Smarter than humans.”
“Smart enough Sluss thinks they’re sentient. Consequently, he doesn’t like killing them,”
Watanabe said. “They were the precursors to the ‘evolved’ raptor that became a space fairing civilization. They were the equivalent of Homo ergaster. They were kept for hunting, for pets, and sexual gratification that did not lead to offspring.”
“And they treat them like…” Emily began.
“Dog shit,” Sluss said. “Rape and release. Lower than the lowest untouchable class in human civilized life. Don’t judge them. They treat them exactly how we treat our present, fellow humans, and how we would treat our ancestors, or any perceived primitive race, and the predecessors to humans.”
“Who were not actually our predecessors,” Watanabe said. “They came after us. We evolved into them, not them into us.” “We’re burning daylight,” Emily said.
“Cowboys, Jon Wayne,” Watanabe said. “I like that one. And, luckily for us, the wind’s favorable for a slash and burn.”
“Yeah,” Sluss said. “Damn it. I hate this.”
“We were ordered to survive,” Watanabe said.
Sluss rotated the grenade options, fired two rounds into the air over the field. Consecutive explosions sounded, no apparent light..
“Take Emily’s hand, walk into the field. Don’t let go,” Sluss said. “Once inside, run.”
“Run? Which way?”
“Sunwards. If you let go, if you come out the other side without her, I will kill you,” Sluss said. “Clear?”
Dusit’s eyes couldn’t go wilder.
“The Gods must be crazy?” Emily asked. “Don’t worry,” Emily told Dusit. “I will protect you.”
Emily took his hands and escorted him into the field. Once inside, they ran. She giggled, their bodies and join hand felling wheat that sprung back up behind them.
“They’re bait?’ Watanabe asked. “We all are,” Sluss said.
“Want to bet on how long we last?” Watanabe asked.
“Bet I outlive you,” Sluss said.
Watanabe swung his weapon over his back, drew his sword. “I hope you’ve been adding to Sluss fund you’re leaving me.”
Sluss nodded. Watanabe went first. He disappeared into the grass. “Play list,” Sluss said. His suit began to play music that only he could hear. ‘Walk the dinosaur,’ Was Not Was. A rippling of the wheat near where Watanabe had disappear became evident. Sluss fired into the wheat. A creature fell out, stunned. He drew closer, firing two more rounds directly into the raptor’s head. A kill wasn’t a kill until a minimum of two shots through the brain had been registered. Sluss ran into the field. There was the smell of smoke. There was the smell of barbecue. He penetrated the wheat into a burned area, a circle felled by his grenades, with fire proceeding them. Emily and Dusit were running to keep up with the fire. It was not a normal fire. It was driven by unearthly spirit, faster than the wind could carry it, but seemed to be faring better in the direction of the wind than sideways or backwards, and so it was sweeping out a cone section. Smaller critters ran. Tiny shrieks of suffering could be heard. Grasshoppers the size of crows took flight. Watanabe had a raptor pierced through the jaw with the sword, simultaneously trying to retreat from a second. Only the pain he was causing kept the first one from tossing him about. Sluss dropped the second, then put two rounds in the brain of the ‘skewered’ one. As it fell, Watanabe pulled his sword out, and rushed Emily and Dusit. A raptor leapt out of the flaming wheat. A shot from Sluss stunned it just enough that it hit the ground hard and rolled. Watanabe got a good swing, and with the momentum of both, was able to severe its head. Emily shouted “Mai Oka for real!” The raptors body got up and kept running. Two raptors gave chase to its own, brought it down and began to feed on its brother. The pop of an electric arc from Sluss’ weapon allowed him to stun another with electricity. It fell. Sluss touched its belly, knew it would lay eggs soon; he chose not to kill her.
“Forgive me for your sleep,” Sluss said, and pushed on.
A T-Rex reared its head over the field. It breached the circle, orientating, oblivious to the flames that rushed by it. The flames were dying out- this was as far as the flame circle would allow them. Sluss and Watanabe caught up to Emily and Dusit, who had wisely came to a halt. They did not move. They did not breathe. “Scarface, my old friend,” Emily whispered. They stood close together, Watanabe in front, Sluss in back. More than dozen raptors came into the clearing. They were neither angry for their losses, nor were they gleeful the hunt was over. The only calculations going on were who would eat, who wouldn’t, and would the T-Rex need to be added to the menu.
“Not the way I saw the day ending,” Watanabe said.
Emily dropped Dusit’s hand and stepped forwards. “Now,” she said, in a voice that wasn’t hers; it was a command voice. “You owe me.”
The T-rex roared at her as if it had been talking to her. It was louder than train whistle. The raptors charged. There was a blinding flash and a wind that knocked the four humans off their feet. It knocked the dinosaurs off their feet as well. When they could see again, there was a man was standing in the field. Emily laughed. “A man outstanding in his field.” The man was squared off with the T-Rex, it’s head lowered and ready to charge. He extended an empty hand.
It grasped the hilt to a weapon that wasn’t there but then ‘suddenly’, and inexplicably was. There was a loud report as it activated. A gold beam extended from the hilt. It glowed like liquid gold. Like a ballerina ninja from the matrix, the man greeted the assault with love, twirling, flying, landing on his feet, and standing as if having completed a gymnast’s routine that would a gold medal. The golden blade cut through the T-rex like a hot knife through butter, dropping the head one way, the body the other. It was too heavy and unwieldy to keep running with no control. Its feet and tail kicked. No blood. The wound was cauterized by the gold blade. The eyes blinked. The man extinguished his sword, lowered his hands. The raptors were still, heads bowed.
“There has been enough death today, friends,” the man said. “You will get more meals from my kill than these tiny mammals. Trade with me, and the whole clan benefits.”
The man came over to Sluss, releasing his weapon’s hilt. It didn’t fall. It just went away.
“You will be escorted to the gate,” the man said. “Do not deviate from the gold path. Do not kill again today.”
“Who are you?” Sluss asked.
“What are you?” Watanabe asked.
“Thank you,” Emily said.
The man bowed, brought his hands together in a ‘Namaste’ gesture. Emily collapsed.
Dusit was crying.
“Don’t you dare faint,” Sluss said told Dusit.
Sluss picked up Emily. He carried her. They walked. Six raptors walked with them, remaining a respectful distance. They accompanied them all the way to the arc. They fell back once the humans entered the garden sanctuary. The gate came alive for them.
“Dusit, Watanabe, stay behind me,” Sluss said. “Dusit, keep your mouth shut.” They entered the gate. They were in the human corridor. Home base was just the other side of a visible door too far away, given the number of Draconians blocking the path. Orish was in the front.
“Give her to me,” Orish said.
“No,” Sluss said.
“I will kill you all and drop you in the forest,” Orish roared.
“I know; that is the privilege of your authority and rank,” Sluss said. “We accept.”
“What the h…”
Watanabe dropped Dusit with a Taser.
“Kill them,” Orish said.