Papuru Star: Coalition Carnage

Chapter 3: Kane vs Claude

PAST

A little boy is holding hands with his mother as they walk through the bustling avenues of Jewelhead. Tall, curved buildings bordered an extensive shopping district composed of decorative huts or booths with peoples selling items, food, or services. Delicious aromas filled the air as many foods from many worlds were prepared for off world tourists, who outnumbered the Dycordians present.

Kane (voiceover)
Jewelhead, a city on the planet Dycord, is a favorite destination for vacationers from Earth, my mom among them. She told me once it was both alien (the scenery) and familiar (lots of Earthlings), which is why she felt it safe for us to visit often.

Child Kane broke from his mother's grasp to sprint to a booth occupied by a green skinned Finan hocking toy planes that were in the midst of arial combat, controlled by a headpiece he wore.

Kane's mother
It's lunch time, sweetie. I will buy you a toy later.

Child Kane
But mom it's from Flight for Space my favorite show!!! Please! Please!!!

Kane's mother (signing)
Okay, pick the one you want.

Child Kane jumps at the opportunity to quickly pick out two toys.

Kane (voiceover)
I was an idiot child, so self-absorbed in kid things I didn't see how unhappy my mom was. That it took these vacations to Dycord with me to bring out her true nature.

Mother and son play with the space fighter toys as they walk, dogfighting over the heads of unsuspecting shoppers. One of the toys, after hit with a play light ray and simulating a crash, flys into an alley next to a mask shop. Child Kane ran after it, zipping between mask shoppers. Two Dagons, both appearing intoxicated, enter the alley after him. With a look of panic, mother hurried after her son.

Kane (voiceover)
My mom was always overprotective and not the normal overprotectivness of motherhood. She acted as if everyone was a potential threat. She was so fearful of others she taught me how to read a person with near perfect accuracy. By age six, I could easily distinguish friend from foe.

When his mother reached the alley, Kane was laughing and playing with the Dagons, who were enjoying the flying toy.
Nevertheless, she quickly grabbed her son and hugged him, throwing a glare at the two muscle men, who only toss up their hands in mock offense as they walked away. Another man enters the alley, walking past the drinking buddies, wearing a long dark cloak and a mask from the shop next door.

Kane (voiceover)
Yeah, I knew as soon as I saw him and so did mom.

Kane's mother blocked him from the approaching menace, who then pulled a gun.

Kane (voiceover)
I lost my mother that day. Hurt like hell. And since my dad died five years prior, I was an orphan at ten.

Child Kane is sitting in a modest living area crying softly on a couch. Child Claude sits next to him and hand him a sandwich. Child Claude's parents stood at a doorway crying as well.

Kane (voiceover)
Both my parents and Claude's knew each other before we were born so I had to stay with them until my aunt came from Earth to scoop me up. Claude helped me get through the tough years ahead and I'm man enough to say he is my best friend.

PRESENT

Kane and Claude are sitting in a common area decorated with ferns and other types of fauna from at least four worlds. A large window looked out over the main avenue leading to Assembly Hall, while the rest of the area was boxed in by the reception hall. Inside and around Assembly Hall was a bustle of activities ranging from fun to paid work as the carnival that was set up a couple of miles away had drifted to include the many administrative buildings lining the streets. Vehicles of both land and air clutter the vision and the massive topaz appeared as if it were a restraining wall. Claude was looking out at this as Kane was staring away at a datapad.