Ben Blazze and Heimdall's Orb

Chapter 12: The Gang

After the English class, things ran smoothly in the morning classes. They've had Biology class with Professor Stanley Ficus - a tall, strong Bulboric with blond "hair" and "beard," which were actually bright green leaves. They've also had History class with Professor David McMoldy of the Edidari race. He resembled a rat, with thick hair covering his skinny physique, and large front teeth, which showed even with a closed mouth.

Ben, Sam, Kaleb, Anna, and Mirelly (also Sweetflower, hidden in Ben's backpack), spent the whole time together. During the mid-morning break, Ben discovered that the four of them had been friends for a long time. But he had no chance to ask the three aliens if Mirelly knew anything about their secret, though. The opportunity came only at the end of the morning period when the human children went home.

In the courtyard, Ben glanced around to check for humans, but there was none. Near them, there was only one other circle of alien kids, where the obnoxious Giovinnian boy dominated the conversation. Seeing that there was no danger, Ben asked the others, "What about Mirelly, guys? Does she know about... us?"

"Of course she doesn't," Anna Julia replied, rolling her eyes. "You know that could never happen. Don't you?" she suddenly asked, casting an accusing yet incredulous look on Ben.

"Well ... it's just that I'm kind of new to this not-being-from-here thing," he replied awkwardly, looking down.

"What do you mean?!" the three asked at once, with slight variations.

"The thing is that my father disappeared when I was still a baby, and my mother was human," he said, whispering the last two words. "I found out all this by chance. It happened last week when I moved in at my grandma's and found my dad's old DUPER. That was when Sweetflower showed up and told me everything."

"Who is Sweetflower now?" Anna inquired, still looking she was in utter disbelief.

"Ah, she is a Caeli friend who is watching over me. Look," he said as he opened a small gap in his backpack so that Sweetflower could put her mouse face out and greet them all with a "Hi, guys!"

Widespread awe. Jaws hit the ground, followed by laughter from everyone.

"This is so dope! You were there the whole time, sis?!" Kaleb asked her in his funny surfer manner.

"Yes, I was. We'll talk better in the afternoon classes. Bye!" the Caeli replied quickly, sinking back into the bag.

"You mean you're... mixed-race?" Anna asked Ben.

"Yes, I am."

"This is amazing. It's unnoticeable. I'm a Vagui, and I would never find out if you didn't tell me!" she commented.

"I've never heard of a mixed-race before," said Sam. "Does the Council know about you?"

"Yes, that's why Sweetflower was already waiting for me. It looks like my family is the only known case of mingling between races. And that's also why they have to be more cautious – because of the..."

"Acharn," they all said together.

"Yes. How did you know?"

"It was an obvious deduction," said Sam, who had an intellectual stance when he wasn't bending over laughing. "Any alien kid knows this story and why we can't show ourselves to humans."

"We should go now, or else there'll be no lunch left for us," said Anna.

"Where are we going?" Ben asked.

"Down there," Kaleb said, pointing to the patio floor. "You'll dig it."

"Not literally, though," Sam added, seeing Ben's concerned look, and then burst into laughter along with Kaleb.