Campfire Road

The Verak

Jake turns from his messy teen Grandpa and walks for the stairs, shaking his head, "I've lost my fuckin' mind."

Zev's tone is hostile, "Don't you dare take those shoes through my house!"

Jake turns back and matches his tone, but not his volume, "This can't be real!"

Grandpa moves from the table with agility, "Jake, please, calm down."

Jake feels the anger rushing in his body even as he wonders why he's mad, "Calm down?
"My father is twelve and my grandfather is fourteen!
"How can you be calm?"

He sounds fun as he shrugs, "Well, it's not the weirdest thing that ever happened to me.
"I am glad you believe us."

Jake flops his butt down on the stairs and speaks softly with respect, "I can feel it in my chest and my head.
"Somehow I'm supposed to look out for you now.
"Not like that's not totally fair, but it's just not what I expected."

Eric sighs happily, "He gets that reasonable from Rosa."

Zev fusses with a tone of disapproval, "Sure didn't get it from you.
"Get to the cleaner."

Eric gets in a low drawer and it's the most like a drawer yet.
He reaches in with both hands, "Ten seconds good?"

Zev complains, "You're so lazy. Do fifteen."

Eric counts off, "In five, four, three, two and flash."

Light blinds them for fifteen seconds, then it's gone and so is the messy goo and cocoon.

Grandpa fusses, "I still need a shower."

Eric leans to the drawer, "Sorry, Dad. Just couldn't bring myself to wash you.
"Clothes are one thing.
"Hand bath's a different matter."

Zev covers his laugh as Eric closes the drawer and seems really tired, "Are we to the point, I'm supposed to reminded you to notify Dad's boss?"

Zev moves for the station, "Yes, thank you.

"Should I risk two way?
"Jake already took out a hallucination."

Grandpa shrugs, "It's up to Jake... This is his show now.

"Two way risks being listened in on, but we get answers at once.
"Standard messaging is safer, but it could be days."

Jake shrugs, "I say, asking me is dumb at this point.
"Zev should make such decisions until I know enough even to have options."

Zev works the station as he snickers and Grandpa fusses, "Ya can't give her that kind of control.
"We'll be laughed from one end of the plane to the other."

Eric questions with surprise, "The plane has edges?"

Zev laughs a little with Grandpa, then offers kindly, "Yes, but you can't go there.
"When you get close enough you bounce off in cosmic force to the other side."

Grandpa adds, "Works like a portal, so many call it that."

Zev repectfully orders, "Gather around.
"He's securing the conection."

They all move closer and it's only a moment before they hear the male voice, "Why English, El'Man~uel? It's understandable by more."

Zev informs him, "We can't hide this report anyway.
"Walker died."

He huffs, "About time.
"Does that mean your boy Jake is in play now?"

Zev pridefully reports, "Yes and he's already had a knockout."

"Well, he is of Walker.
"How long is Walker gonna be down?
"Time for anyone to take you to dinner?"

Grandpa huffs, "Fat chance, ya slimy backstabber.
"Tirvean, done told you a billion times, stop trying to steal my mate."