Subterranean (9 page)

A Pensive Moment

Despite returning to the serenity of the simple with Lisa, he had trouble focusing on their leisurely amble. Thoughts of Earth in shambles seemed to hit harder, now that he knew of a way to return, even though he admitted feeling some sort of mysterious connection keeping him on the Subterranean planet. Even with the means, he wouldn’t be so sure he could just fly away and leave everything behind, maybe because he’d already done it so many times in the past in disregard of his sister.

However, the one thought that evoked anger no matter which way he looked at it was that of Tural. The leader has some nerve lying to them about something so important; he would understand if Tural wanted something in return for transporting them, but lying about it to keep them here for their own machinations made him want to pummel his face in.

And what of Rolan and Vale? Do they know of this secret?

Radovan didn’t know, but he’s a scientist; the two top officers in Tural’s little militia would no doubt have knowledge of the spaceships. He was so tempted to ask them outright or come up with indirect ways to figure out, but knew that aggravating the matter was too risky until Radovan came up with a plan.

Yet again, Flynn slapped himself on the forehead to stop his incessant thinking; Lisa wasn’t even remotely engrossed in such things, she simply gazed on in fascination and merry. He envied her cluelessness, her ability to so easily be distracted and forget about things. “And look at that!” Her finger directed his view towards some natural cave formations that were truly a sight to see; nature’s gallery of sculptures spiraled and curved along sharp rocks that jutted out to a fine point halfway up and down.

Next to those were small pools of glistening clear water that reflected the colorful lights of glowing organisms swimming carelessly about within. The crisp smell of the fresh flowing water filled his swelling lungs with a smile, calming his mind like a salve with instantaneous effects.

Turning his attention elsewhere, he saw a magnificently large statue of a Subterranean holding some sort of ceremonial wreath shaped in the form of a shining sun. The sculpture looked ornately carved and lavishly decorated indicating that it was clearly of high importance in Subterranean culture; the fierce look of determination on the stone face was truly inspiring to behold, even to an outsider like Flynn.

In an effort to pry Lisa’s eyes away from the sensory overload that was the city, he offered a way to smooth out the evening. “Lisa, are you hungry?”

She nodded with a smile.

Of all the things Flynn normally predicts before they happen, he neglected his own physiological needs for survival; he had no idea where to get food… none that would be compatible with their DNA, anyway.

A Dinner Invitation

Flynn had received another two energy bars from the hospital before they left to explore the city, but he wanted something a little more substantial than that, especially for Lisa. Luckily, Overseer Vale had found them wandering the city streets and greeted them with a cheerful hello. Although, when she noticed Lisa holding affectionately onto Flynn, her face melted back to a serious expression. Addressing only Flynn, she reverted to her usual rough, distant voice.

“How are you, Flynn?”

Vale’s use of his name shocked him slightly, but he quickly recovered and responded with a smile. “I’m fine. And you?”

“Fine.”

Flynn presented Lisa with a smile. “This is my friend Lisa.”

“Hi.”

“Hello.”

The two females waved to each other with forced smiles, which unsettled Flynn; they still didn’t like each other. He was afraid that Lisa wouldn’t be welcomed because she hadn’t gone up to the surface as he had, but as far as he was concerned the fact that Lisa was his friend should be enough. Now, he was doubtful of proclaiming a surety that Overseer Vale had placed more trust in him after the incidents on the surface, mostly because she was far from predictable, but he’d perceived a slight improvement in her attitude towards him since they first met; it was likely just a cycle people had to go through in order to get on her good side.

The awkward silence that followed beckoned Flynn to speak. “So, Vale, do you know of any good places to eat around here?”

“None that you will leave alive.”

“Yeah, I figured there wouldn’t be any human food on the menu.” He sighed and pulled out the energy bars in his pocket. “Oh, well, I guess it’s… well, whatever these things are for us again tonight.”

Vale had laughter written across her face, but tried to restrain it behind a blank mask. “Well, that is what I came to you about. Rolan and I are having dinner together at his house. Would you like to come? He has prepared some food you will find edible.”

Flynn grinned in excitement. “Of course, that sounds lovely.” He bowed his head in respect.

“What are you doing?” She asked with a puzzled look.

“I’m trying to thank you.”

“Why did you not simply speak the words, then?”

“Because there are different ways to express gratitude and…”

His attempts to explain the silly customs on Earth were in vain, for she lost the fight to hide her widening smile.

Chapter 8

Dinner at Rolan’s

Flynn, Lisa, and Vale all approached the entrance to Rolan’s house, a modest little hovel on the outskirts of the city, receiving little of the main light shining from the city square.

“I do not know why he lives in this meager structure; it must be the worst building in the city, made a long, long time ago by one of the first members of our species to move underground.”

“Lisa and I live in a hospital.” Flynn fired back, generating a small chuckle.

After a press of a button on a control panel, Rolan answered with a hearty greeting. “So good to see you all; I am excited you all came! And not to worry, I assure you, my wife’s cooking will not disappoint!” He lowered to a whisper and brought his hand up to his mouth to guide the sound of his voice at Flynn and Lisa. “I even got the proteins from the hospital for you two. We do not want you to drop dead before dessert!”

Flynn grinned in embarrassment. “Thanks, Rolan.”

“Please, come in, come in, welcome to my… our home.” He excitedly glided along the floor to his wife and took hold of her like a precious jewel, caressing the elongated lump on her side that looked more like an inflated scar than a pregnancy. “My wife, Rasina. She is beautiful, is she not?”

His rhetorical question was almost answered by Vale, but fortunately she exercised the proper self-restraint and remained quiet. She did, however, break apart their hugging by clearing her throat and inquiring for a place to sit down. She made no attempts to hide her disposition towards Rasina and Lisa during dinner, showing her dislike for them through her barely controlled restraint rather than outright vocal or physical displays.

In truth, Vale was really only present because Rolan asked her to come, although she confessed Flynn was now more attractive, in her opinion, than she first thought. Actually, she spent most of dinner glancing up at Flynn whenever he wasn’t looking her way, peering at his well-defined face and observing his behavior.

As for the food, Rasina was a good cook, there was no doubt about it; Flynn was quite satisfied to have at last gotten a good meal, the first in almost a week. Rasina herself turned out to be a cheery one, full of life and interested in everything that everyone else had to say, always lively and excited to the point where she could barely contain all the things she wanted to say when a conversation was in process. Flynn even thought she was quite attractive, appearing more feminine than most Subterraneans, and complimented her on her beauty, which she reciprocated, swelling his head with an overinflated ego amidst her fascination with his handsome features.

They all exchanged pleasantries and small talk to lighten the mood of the day, eventually winding around to Flynn’s tales of his life. Knowing that any discussion about the surface or Tural would be unwise, he purposely strayed away from such comments or questions.

It wasn’t easy, to feast while he knew others starved and died on Earth, and even more so with the possibility that Rolan and Vale could be the ones keeping him from rescuing billions… but he used his vast array of mind tricks to free himself from any guilt, maintaining a positive mood despite the emotions of reprehension.

No, he spent this time to relax; to wash away all worry and doubt from his mind and partake in the gratification of friendship and merriment with nary a wayward thought entering his mind. The normally quiet house on the relatively dark street filled with the din of laughter and cheer.

“So, Rolan,” Flynn inspected the different foods on his plate, “what exactly is this?” He was staring at a bowl filled with dark blue liquid and chunks of various sized mystery meats and fruits, all topped off with a sprinkle of an unknown plant.

Rolan looked down at his own food, blushed, and then turned to Rasina. “What
is
this, my love?”

“Stew! I made your favorite.” She sipped a bit of it and returned to Rolan’s blank stare. “You like it, yes, my beloved?”

“Yes, it is lovely.” He used a utensil to bring some of it closer to his studying eyes. “I thought your stew is normally green.”

“Yes, but I had to use some different fruits for the paste.”

Rolan swallowed up a whole mouthful and nodded approvingly. “Well, it still tastes delicious!”

Rasina giggled behind a grin and kissed Rolan on the side of his face. “I knew you would love it.”

Vale had to stop the scene before she gagged. “Are you having an issue with food supply, Rolan?”

“No, no, we have enough. Although the fungus is not growing as well as usual this year… and the pyjas are having issues breeding… and there might be some contaminants in the water supply…”

Flynn reluctantly swallowed a chunk of the not-so-mystery-anymore food while exchanging disturbed glances with Lisa; it went down hard and slow, with a look of mild disgust on his face.

“Rolan, I heard you were being promoted!” He reached for a container of water and gulped it down.

“Really? Who told you that?”

“I don’t know, maybe it was just a rumor.” He hoped the subject would change and he would be able to eat more of the plentiful food on his plate. It didn’t taste bad, but he wished he never knew what it was, especially since he had never seen a pyja before.

“Flynn,” Rolan took another bite of the stew, continuing when he swallowed, “Vale tells me you were an archaeologist on your world.”

“Yes,” he sighed, “I like to think I still am.”

“Have you studied any alien cultures?”

“A few.”

“Tell me,” he leaned on the table, “which was the most interesting?”

Flynn smirked in preparation of Rolan’s laugh. “So far, yours.”

“Ha!” Rolan slammed down on the table, shaking plates and containers. “He is funny! Is he not funny, Rasina?! Haha! Is everyone from your species this funny?!”

“Not really,” he turned to Lisa and smiled seductively, “but not all of us need to be.”

Just then, Rolan noticed Lisa had barely spoken at all. “Ah, yes, the female.” He addressed her with a more reserved voice so as not to startle her. “Apart from what Flynn has told me, there is not much I know about you. What did you do on your home world, Lisa?”

She sat quietly in her chair, afraid to speak as she normally let Flynn do all of the talking. “I…” she said softly, “I was a journalist.”

“Really? And what does a… journalist? What do they do?”

“Write about the news and other stuff.”

She spoke in a vague tone, like she was holding back details on purpose. Flynn couldn’t tell whether she was doing it to keep from spoiling the conversation with too much information or if she actually didn’t have an understanding of what she was talking about, which meant she was lying. Either way, he remained quiet.

“I see, so what was the most interesting thing you have written about?”

“Nothing, really,” she avoided eye contact with Rolan, “most of it is boring.”

“How unfortunate… but at least you have something to write about now should you ever get back, right? Ha! That would make a great story!” Rolan laughed again.

Sensing Lisa wanted the spotlight taken off her, Flynn spoke up to Rolan and drew the attention of everyone at the table again. “What about you, Rolan?” He shifted his eyes to Vale. “And you, Vale?” He shifted again to Rasina. “And Rasina? What are your stories?”

Rolan answered first. “Well, it all started when I went to the surface my first time…”

“Here we go...” Overseer Vale rolled her eyes.

“Oh, come on, Vale, you are in this story, too.”

“I know, but it is quite long.”

“Because it is a good story! When was the last time you heard me tell a story?”

“Earlier today. You tell me a story every day, sometimes twice a day. Do you not remember?”

“Hmm, I suppose I do tell a lot of stories…” He went back to his soup and the room fell to silence.

“I was wondering about something, Rolan,” Flynn spoke tentatively, “why did you save me and Lisa on the surface when we first landed?” He shifted in his chair. “I mean, a couple of strange aliens like us fall from the sky and you decide to save us? Why not just let us die? We seem like we’re more trouble than we’re worth.”

Rolan leaned back in his chair. “That was a mistake. I forgot Vale had switched the setting on my weapon back to stun after she borrowed it the day before.”

Vale smiled at Rolan and then at Flynn, who sat with a shocked, speechless face. When Flynn noticed them smiling, he broke into laughter. “I can’t believe I almost fell for that that!” His words struggled to be audible over the collective chuckling.

“You were too tempting a target, Flynn.” Everyone, even Lisa, couldn’t resist the tidal wave of positive energy rushing over them, and surrendered to the pain of excessive laughter. “But in truth,” Rolan continued once the involuntary cackling had lessened, “I had a feeling, I do not understand it enough to explain it to others, that you were a good person from a good species that could be trusted.”

Flynn glanced over at Lisa, who returned his look with an expression of unease. “Right, humans have a term for that. It’s called intuition.” He stirred his soup as he talked, keeping his eyes off Rolan. “Not many people follow their intuition, because they fear it’s just nerves or paranoia talking to them, trying to mislead them,” his cold voice iced over the warm atmosphere of the dining room, “but when they do listen, they often figure out they were right all along.”

Rolan stared blankly at Flynn. “Well, it appears I was correct in following my… ‘intuition’, then.” He leaned into the table. “Now, for one of my stories. Vale and I were performing reconnaissance on the surface when suddenly a giant worm comes crashing from out of the sand…”

A Show of Friendship

For the rest of dinner and all the way through desert, Rolan entertained everyone with all manner of tales. From his frequent travels on the surface, to the Subterranean city’s constant problem of pest infestation, he invariably amused with fascinating stories that enlivened the party.

Eventually, Rolan and Flynn sat alone at the table talking of different archaeological digs he had excavated, while Lisa and Rasina conversed in the living room. Strangely enough, Subterranean homes were surprisingly devoid of any furnishings, which meant that other than during meals, they always sat on the shiny, clean floor.

Vale sat in the corner with her arms crossed and back against the wall watching Lisa and Rasina speak, too bored to listen to Flynn’s stories and too distasteful of Rolan’s wife to join the other females. Lisa appeared to like Rasina a lot, as she was very understanding and comfortable to be around, unlike most of the other abrasive Subterraneans she was easily intimidated by; there was an air of calm around Rasina that put her mind at ease and allowed her to drop her guard. Before she knew it, she was chatting up a storm whenever she wasn’t laughing at all the silly things Rolan had done in the past.

“Here, Flynn, I have a gift.” Rolan held out a sleek white container in his hands.

“Thanks.” He took the circular container and cocked his head. “What is it?”

“Kraan!”

Flynn arched an eyebrow, completely dumbstruck by the language barrier. “Kraan? What’s Kraan?”

“A delicious drink!” He leaned in to a whisper. “And a local favorite.”

“Right… So, uh, what’s it taste like?”

“And ruin the surprise?! I think not! That is for you to discover.” He said, imagining Flynn’s reaction in his smile.

“Okay,” he frowned in disappointment, “but I don’t have anything to give
you
.”

“You have already given me a gift.” He held his hands in the air. “This was the best dinner I have had in a long time.”

“Yeah,” Flynn nodded, slightly bewildered by his own agreement, “I guess it was for me, too.”

“Oh,” said Rolan with a lowered voice and pointing his eyes at Lisa, “if you share that drink with your friend, be prepared for some… unexpected results.”

His face twisted in bemusement. “What is
that
supposed to mean?”

“The substance intoxicates the consumer. You may find that you will not have full control of your actions.”

“So… it’s liquor?” He said in disbelief, staring at the container.