Off Planet (Asterism Chronicles Volume One)

About Him

"I'm fine!" My father yelled as Cap told him to lay back down.

"You were stabbed!" Cap said frustrated. "You cant push yourself, the stitches will tear. Ask your daughter."

That was the routine. Whenever Cap came in the room he would resist his advise. His wound was healing perfectly, but he didn't want to sit still. He was overly active for someone with a punctured kidney.

"Just listen." I told him as he pouted.

"Fine!" He said throwing up his hands and flinching as he pulled on the stitches.

Cap, feeling like he won a battle, handed him some water and soup. He was back to the person I grew up with. Always joking and innocent at heart. His smile brightened whenever Jack and I came in the room. He told us that the reason he was selling those drugs was because of his mother who died of cancer. She died before I was born, so I never met her. As he explained why, things became clear and I saw who he truly was.

After a couple days of laying there he was aloud to sit up without Cap getting mad. As he sat up, he walked over to where Jack and I was sitting. He cocked his head slightly as I watched Jack draw me. Noticing him, Jack looked up.

"Is something wrong? Should I get Cap?" Jack said putting his pencil away.

"No no. I was watching. You are quite talented." My dad said.

"Well thank you, sir." Jack was always formal when speaking to him.

"You don't have to be so formal. I told you, my name is Noah." He said sitting beside us on the couch.

"Sorry, si-, I mean Noah." He said. He was still nervous when speaking to him, but just because he was careful of me, not because he hurt him.

My dad laughed "It's fine. But, can I speak to Rae for a second?"

"Of course." He said walking out of the room.

As Jack left, my dad turned to look at me. "He's very well mannered, can draw, cares for your safety, and saved your life."

"Yes, he's done a lot for me." I said, anxious about what he's getting at.

"How old is he?"

"He's twenty."

"Family?"

"Not really." I said confused. "He ran away with his sister, but she got adopted."

He nodded slightly. "How long has he been on the streets?"

"A few years, he ran from the orphanage too."

"You know a lot about him. What about when you were in... jail." It pained him to think about it.

"I stayed away from him. He was told if he found me, he would get off. But they lied."

"Cops are corrupt, remember that." He said.

"But he came and said he was getting every one out, but he needed my hair. I didn't let him so he cut it. That's why my hair is short, I cut it to match the one he did."

"And when you were.. injured?"

"When I couldn't continue, he carried me."

My dad smiled and stood up slowly. He walked over to the covered window and sighed, wishing he could open it. Looking around this small room he saw all the medical supplies. He seemed to be contemplating something.

"Whats with this interrogation?" I asked following him. He stopped by the counter, so I jumped up and sat on it. "You could have asked Jack all this."

"I already did." He said leaning against the counter. "I wanted to see if you knew him, and if he was telling the truth."

"What for? Why does it matter?"

He looked at me, his face slightly sad. " I know you have to leave. I know you want to, but I can't yet. I will come after you, so don't worry."

"Why?" I asked, shocked and saddened.

"You've made a good choice." He responded. "Jack is a great man, you have my blessing."

"What are you talking about?" I asked again. "Your blessing?"

"You can go with him. You don't have to wait for me to get better. The cops are still looking for you, so you need to keep moving. Eskran was good, but here they can find you."

"Dad, we can go back to Eskran. We can wait until you heal and then go. Your acting as if I won't see you for years!" I said, anger and sadness overcoming me.

"I know. It's just in case."

"In case of what?"

"Anything happens to me." He said, his face saddened.

He walked away leaving me on the counter, confused and wondering what he means. As I thought of what he could mean, realization flashed in my mind. I looked to him slowly sitting on the bed trying to lay down without hurting himself. As he laid down I ran out of the room, looking for Cap.