Stay Alive

Chapter 4

The news broke out that the space shuttle that brought me to Yaddle had blown up. Security measures around the space port were tripled. There were squirts with guns and other weapons guarding the perimeter. The space port was shut down for a few hours to search for explosives and incendiary devices. Ships were thoroughly searched before they were allowed to enter or leave Yaddle. Everyone had to show the members of security their identification and clearance before going anywhere or they are detained. People were communicating with officials in nearby star system. They started to coordinate with each other to figure a way to respond and resolve the matter. The reason behind the explosion remain unknown. The people on Delga asked what repairs were made on Yaddle. Then the people from the next stop was Kree. They suspected nothing since their scanners pick up nothing. In the end the hardware showed that the shuttle came out of streamline before the designated area. They stopped in the lawless zone.

The news reporters were laying the blame on a being called Mangalore. These were blood thirsty brutes that tried to enslave everyone but were defeated and scattered across the Galaxy. They show up out of nowhere and start shooting at anything that moves. They even shot the escape pods. They couldn't care less if you were an elderly or infant. If you move they shoot at you. They are described as tall as a fully grown man. They have greyish pasty, heavily wrinkled skin with flat noses, pointy ears and tusks that stick upwards and beady eyes. These brutes are fewer in numbers but these nightmares have murdered millions.

They listed the people who died and I was amongst them. I didn't say anything I just went back to work. Zolka and the other Squirts were a sport as they seemed to get along with me. I drank from blood bags to ensure that my thirst was kept in check. I decided to see what other abilities I possessed. After work I went to the salvage yard and jumped around till I managed to fly. Then I started to lift heavy objects. Then I ran as fast as my legs would let me. Afterwards the groundskeeper escorted me out reminding me of the curfew. So I ran home as fast as I could.

Gorgons came out into the streets. They are huge snails with crystals dotted all over their body. They left a trail of glittery slime on their wake. They were sluggish. Their shell had a mother of pearl sheen to it. Some had cracks on it. A piece of shell fell off one of the snails and shattered. The snail slithered undeterred along with its companions it just moved to the arena. They stop moving when they gather around a round table. The table was lifted and hookahs were brought over. They took a few puffs and out came rainbow colored smoke. They let out a roar. Somehow I understood what these things were saying. Before I would have said it sounded like a broken trombone. My mind translated what they were saying repeatedly, "Food. Food. Food"

The ceiling opened and the captain of the ship I had dismantled a few hours ago came dangling on a rope. He was being lowered very slowly. The snails spat out a gluey substance from their mouths. They ripped him apart and swallowed them whole. I saw the dismembered body parts slide down their transparent necks. These snails ate eight other beings before retreating back to its battered shells to sleep. Once they were snoring in deep slumber the floor started to move like a conveyor belt and they were moved elsewhere.

An emissary from Nocturna arrived asking me to come with him. I told him that I appreciate his concern. I am working to stay out of trouble. I have a job and a life. I don't want to be in the center of attention anymore. He gave me his word that I am going to be safe back in Calysto (The capital of the nocturnum nation). I politely declined but he said that legally I am a refugee that is documented in Calysto so I am here on a temporary permit. The intergalactic law states that I can only stay in Yaddle for thirty days. I have not made it past a week. Regardless I had to board the spaceship and go back to Calysto. I had to leave my clothes and other belongings behind.

I board a ship that resembles a manta ray. It was spacious and had wide comfortable seats. I was strapped like I was in a rocket ship. The ship shot up like a bullet. I was pushed back to my seat. I felt my internal organs push towards my spine. A few seconds of dizziness later I was in deep space. We were streamlining. Outside was a display of the Aurora borealis. The ship was traveling faster than the speed of light. An hour later I was looking at the planet Nocturna. Or as they called Kras. The ship was given permission to enter. When we landed I was greeted by a stern faced nocturnal named Iro.

I was asked where I would be staying. I chose the city. They took me to an office where I was given a glittering silver tattoo. A planet with three moons orbiting around it. Around that was a circle with Celtic symbols on it. Then I was escorted to an apartment near the city center. I was given the job as a librarian. A few humans had brought all sorts of literature. Here on this planet knowledge is respected. There were scrolls, manuscripts and books in different languages modern and ancient. I had to sort them according to the timeline. So oldest to youngest. There were arguments about the authenticity of some. Others were sorted quickly. Some were encased in glass cases and they were sent to the museum. Soon the Nocturnum came in numbers to view exhibits. They were curious about the different styles of writing, clothes, culture and cuisine on Earth.

When I got my day off I visited the museum. The first exhibit was about early human civilization. The next one was about the Muslim Caliphate. The next exhibit was the mongol empire. Then came the Chinese dynasty. Then the renascence era of Europe. Then the native American tribes and European migrates and the civil war. The technologically advanced era. The next exhibit was about the wars. The first was the cold war. The next was the Vietnam war then the Korean war. The Palestine and Israel conflict. Finally the world wars.

The humans were not allowed to have a separate space they were given apartments in the city so that the Nocturnum can keep an eye on them. I saw that the others weren't tattooed like me. They had chips inserted into their arms. There were retinal scanners every few inches. These logged the whereabouts of everyone to ensure safety and security. Some felt uneasy but said nothing. Others filed a complaint. They were told to leave Nocturna if they had any problem with the rules. Those that complained were evicted while the others were accommodated.