The dragons & Snogger Granx

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PROLOGUE  

Outer space; somewhere between the Milky Way Galaxy and the Klaxarian Galaxy - Earth year 2042

Lewis stared out of the coriaglaz dome, captivated by what he saw of the deep black of space, speckled with a few pin-points of light scattered across the darkness.  The black was not so much a spreading out, as it was an encroachment.  It seemed dead to him, claustrophobic, as though it would engulf and overpower him.  He focused on the pin-points, those far-away stars that let him know the black was just that, the colour of nothing, not a solid wall they’d smash into.  He took a deep breath and turned away from the canopy.  He still couldn’t believe where he was, and what had led up to this.

Grampa was right.  He’d always been right.  Not that he’d ever doubted his grandfather.  There were aliens out there.  Heck, they were right here in the saucer with him.  They weren’t green either, the way most people thought of aliens.  Little green men indeed.  They were orange and blue, depending whether they were male or female,  these ones anyway.  And strangely enough these two aliens - they called themselves floog - were his great-grandparents.  Adopted accidentally of course, but family was family.  His Grampa had been raised by them.   

Now, along with his beloved Grampa Ethan he was on his way to the planet where the old man had spent his childhood.

Lewis had heard the stories his entire life; how Grampa Ethan had been adopted as an orphan by the alien Xerix, and how Xerix had arrived back from one of his discovery missions on Earth with a pet.  He’d learned about the human custom of having them, and it appealed to him.  He’d adopted something, but it wasn’t a cat or a dog.  It was a real human!  Xerix had been obliged to adopt and raise the little orphaned boy on Gizmok, and what an adventure that had been.  Lewis knew the stories inside and out.

The little boy, Ethan, (or, E-fan, as the floog called him because they couldn’t say the “th”) had grown to adulthood, and returned to Earth.  Once back young Ethan took the last name Flooge, had earned enough money to finish his education, and begin a career as a mechanical engineer.  He met and married his Gramma Milly, and eventually became a father, and then a grandfather.

Lewis’s mom had never believed her dad’s stories, but Lewis and his sister, Milly sure did!  When he was a little boy, Lewis had dreamed of becoming a proper floog.  Now, here he was, on his way, after finally meeting Xerix, and his mate Qantuu in an emergency visit to Earth.  It had been initiated by Ethan, to avoid being finally declared “crazy” for believing he’d been raised by aliens. His mother had put her foot down; his crazy stories, told as if they were really true, had to stop.  Or else.  He needed proof, and two real-live aliens were all that was needed to provide it.

Lewis laughed inwardly, thinking about how it had all gone down.  Grampa Ethan had finally called out to his adopted parents on his specially provided long-range expitran, to come meet his own daughter and son-in-law for real.  

Unfortunately, contact with humans was frowned upon by the floog government, as humans were considered too violent by floog standards, and risky to associate with.  Xerix had put himself in a real pickle by finally, after being refused permission, taking a flying saucer, and travelling to Earth without permission.  It turned out, Great-Grampa Xerix was a bit of a bad-boy.  The shock on his parents’ faces had been delicious to watch!  

They were odd-looking little things, roughly three and a half feet tall - a little over a meter in height, with an orange skin, or blue in the case of a female, huge ears, and something that functioned as their nose, called an odorit.  A female’s slightly different-looking nose was called an odoral, and on both, it sat on the tops of their heads.  

When the dust had settled, and the entire story unfolded, even Grampa’s biological parents had been discovered through DNA testing.  They were long gone, but a great-aunt, still living, had filled in the gaps.  Another surprise and a secret, that Grampa decided not to share with his daughter yet, came to light.*

Lewis, just graduated from high school, and about to enter university, had gotten grudging permission to return to Gizmok for a visit with his orange and blue great-grandparents.  Lewis’s nervous mother had insisted on Ethan going along, just to make sure he didn’t get into trouble, even though he was, at almost 18, an adult.  But, his mother had different ideas, so, there was Grampa, sitting right across from him.  

He worried a little about the trouble Xerix would be facing, in answering for his crime of taking a flambatix without permission.  When they landed on Gizmok, Xerix would be facing the music for what he’d had done.

His ear had begun to itch, and it reminded him that he’d been given an earbud universal translator.  He hoped he could keep it.  Lewis figured it would come in real handy when he started travelling back on Earth, instead of having to pull out his phone and punch in an app every time somebody spoke a foreign language.

“What do you think they’ll do when we land, Great-Grampa Xerix?” Lewis looked over at the short, aging, dull-orange coloured being who sat at the helm beside him.  Lewis towered above him and he wondered if he’d fit in a floog bed.

“I think they will first take us into custody, and formalize the charges against me.” Xerix sighed.  “I do not look forward to this.” 

Lewis still found it a little strange that the alien’s mouth movements and the language he heard through the translator they’d stuck in his ear didn’t sync up.  But, he supposed, he’d get used to it.  He wondered if he’d be able to learn the language as well as his grandfather had.  

Great-Gramma Qantuu spoke up.  “There is always the possibility of special circumstances.  Family is very important on Gizmok.”  Qantuu had a hopeful expression on her face.  “It is the foundation of all floog society.  And so, it was important that Krikkon Xerix clarify things for E-fan’s family, for E-fan’s own sake.”

Lewis laughed to himself as he heard the familiar floog term for grandfather.  He’d referred to Grampa as ‘Krikkon’ more than once, much to his mom’s frustration.

He had so many questions for his great-grandfather.  What was his grampa like as a little boy?  How did they deal with his little boy mischief and curiosity?  He sat back in the flight chair and leaned back against the seat, only to find his head missing the floog-sized back rest by a mile.  Scooting down a little further in the seat, he managed, by tilting his head backwards, to just barely come to rest on the top of the chair back.  Tired, he closed his eyes wondering what the the next days held for them all ….

CHAP 1

The entire six member Etefing waited on the tarmac as reports of the approaching flambatix filtered in.  Some looked angry, others just had an expression of disbelief, as if they still couldn’t believe that their trusted and esteemed colleague had really done this.  Stealing an inter-galactic space vehicle?  Unheard of!  Going to Urf and consorting with violent hu-mans? Scandalous!

Torkon stood off to the side.  He worried about his old friend, and knew that Xerix could well have been justified in doing what he did.  He wondered just what the story was behind it all.  It must have been a real emergency for E-fan to use the expitran to call for help.  He wondered if there has been a war, if E-fan and his family were safe.  He wouldn’t be surprised, giving what he knew of hu-mans.  He’d seen too much, accompanying Xerix to Urf all those spans ago.  Serving as the Grand Floogonitax back then, his own curiosity had gotten the better of him.  He’d been so impressed with the young hu-man, E-fan that Xerix had adopted.  But looking back, he realized, the boy’s exemplary behaviour would likely have been caused more by the nurturing given to him by Qantuu and Xerix than on his native planet.

Torkon sighed.  They were all in for difficult times ahead.  Torkon would act as advocate for Xerix in the expected trial.  It was the least he could do.  So many times Torkon’s reputation as the Grand Floogonitax, or GF had been saved by Xerix’s quick thinking.  He owed Xerix, and he’d stand by him, thick or thin.

A shout went up from the small crowd.  Someone had spotted the craft in the distant sky.  Torkon squared his shoulders, and would have lifted his chin, if he had one.

They watched as the flambatix grew larger and made the turn to approach the designated ramp, he reviewed the last conversation he’d had with Xerix.  I’ll be back when the problem has been dealt with, whatever it is.  Should I come back a criminal, I know you’ll stand with me, knowing I did it out of principle.  

He wondered how many would be exiting the flam when it finally came to a stop.  If E-fan and his family need asylum here, what would happen to them?  He knew he’d stand by E-fan too.  Surely E-fan’s reputation would keep him in good stead.  He’d been a hero to the floogonians, for Loo’s sake!  How could they brand him an undesirable now?

Torkon thought of Etekah Miz’s floogitelle, Teesa, whom E-fan had saved from drowning.  He thought of the entire capital being overrun by ghimbob, and how E-fan had come up with the plan to round them up so efficiently.*  Surely that all counted now!  Yes, if everyone forgets all of that, he would remind them.

As the flam shut down and the hatch opened, he saw movement at the entrance, and counted heads.  Four bodies emerged and moved down the ramp; two short ones and two very tall ones.  E-fan?  Was E-fan with them?  As they got closer, Torkon took a second, good look.  One of the the tall figures was too young, but almost the same colour fur on his head.  Who was this?  The old one did not look like anybody he knew.

He hurried forward to meet them, anxious to get ahead of the group of disapproving Councillors.

“Torkon, my friend!  I am glad the first face I see is a friendly one!” Shouted Xerix as they approached one another.

“Say nothing to the Etefing, my friend!  Say nothing!”  We will sort this all out, one step at a time.” Torkon assured Xerix and Qantuu, and then looked up at the smiling, friendly face that reminded him a lot of a much taller E-fan.

“I suspect that you are family of our E-fan,” he remarked to the young man.  “You are a pleasant reminder of him!”  The young man began to laugh.  “I shouldn’t have to, sir.  Ethan is standing right here!”

Ethan began to laugh as well.  “Torkon!  I’m a little insulted that you don’t recognize me.”

Torkon stared at the old man and stammered.  “B-but your fur is such a different colour.”

“Well, you’re a pretty dull colour yourself.  It seems we both got old, didn’t we?”

They both laughed at the ridiculousness of it all.  What was ‘old’ anyway?

Xerix made the introductions.  “This is Loo-iss Reesh-mond, the eldest ontemikrik of E-fan.  He has come to us to learn floog ways, and become familiar with his family and our world.” explained Xerix.  “He has been preparing most of his life for this!”

Torkon was impressed with such ambition!  All this youngster’s life preparing to be like a floog?  Was it possible?  Knowing how well Xerix and Qantuu had done in raising E-fan, he didn’t doubt it for a minute.

The Council, growing impatient with the camaraderie,  moved in as one angry swarm of tingits, buzzing and sniping at the new-comers.

“We come to charge and arrest you, criminal Xerix!” Staarka, the blue, female Chief Etekah stood before Xerix.  “And you, criminal by association, Qantuu!”  said another, an orange one, self-importantly raising himself up on his toes, “You will be held in detention until such time as you can hear the charges against you!”

And then they came to the tall hu-mans.  There was a hesitation, a small frisson of fear as they craned their heads upward.  Violent hu-mans!  All of them stepped back, fearful.  Torkon spoke up quickly.

“I will take responsibility for these two!” he assured them.  “One is very young still, and not prone to the behaviour of older hu-mans!”  He then gestured towards Ethan, “And this, my esteemed colleagues is the very famous E-Fan, of whom you learned in your history lessons!”

The Council looked momentarily chagrined and glad to leave both humans in Torkon’s care.  They surrounded the floog pair, prodding them towards the direction of the terminal, and incarceration.  Torkon couldn’t stop them, they had the law on their side for now.

“Come Loo-iss, E-fan, we will go home to my abode for now.  Rest assured all will be well in the end. You do not need to worry.  I have a plan.”

Lewis smiled.  “Nah!  I’m not worried.”

The former Grand Floogonitax looked up, surprised at the confidence the young hu-man had in him.  He led Lewis to the railcar that would take them into the city and his apartment.  Communicating ahead to the cook, Torkon instructed him to prepare a hearty meal.  He only hoped that Lewis liked floog food.  As he remembered it, hu-man tastes didn’t differ too much from their own.

Lewis watched with interest as Torkon made a few more calls, but he’d taken his translator out of his ear so he couldn’t understand what was said.  The thing had started to itch.  He had no idea who the other calls were to, and he didn’t care.  He was starting to feel a little tired, and wondered what time it was.  He’d been up for hours, and it was beginning to feel like jet-lag on steroids.  

But the first thought he’d had when he stepped off the saucer was how colourful everybody was.  The clothing of the six short beings that stood in front of them now, were all brightly dressed in multi-coloured outfits.  The blue females seemed to wear their in paler shades, and their faces were all tattooed.  Of course, that he already knew from Grampa’s stories.

As they entered the city proper, Lewis forgot about how zapped he was, as he looked around.  He’d never seen buildings like this, all shapes, sizes, colours.  They approached one particular spiral-shaped building that seemed to reach the clouds. Every third or fourth level had a peculiar out-jutting balcony, one of which he swore he saw a small flying saucer emerge.  Did people here have personal flying saucers?  He turned to Torkon to ask, but before he could, Torkon began speaking to him.  Lewis couldn’t understand, realized he’d removed his translator, and quickly slipped it back in his ear.

“… is where I live.” Torkon was saying, pointing to the building.  The railcar stopped at a half-oval entrance, where they got out.  The duffle-bag Lewis had brought with him was hauled out of an opening at the rear of the vehicle by what looked like a doorman, who’d come running out from the entrance.  The small being seemed to have some trouble with the weight of it, and Lewis quickly offered to take it from him.

“You don’t need to carry my junk,” he told the attendant, “but thank you for your help!”  He turned to Torkon and asked, not knowing the customs of the place, “Do I need to tip him?”  By the puzzled look Torkon gave him, he knew that, no, there was no tipping here.

Then they were standing in front of an iris set in the wall.  Two buttons glowed red at the side.  Torkon pushed the upper button, turning it blue.  The iris opened, he stepped straight into a hole and disappeared up the shaft.  Lewis looked bug-eyed at his grandfather, speechless.  Ethan started to laugh, and then stopped, deciding it was more advantageous to explain what had just happened. 

“This works like those old pneumatic tubes they used years ago in office buildings, to pass information up and down to other offices, only this is on a much bigger scale.  I used one myself as a young man in the office.  It works on a pressurized air system, and you need to press either an up button..” he pointed to the upper blue light, “…so it turns from red to blue to go up,”  the button suddenly turned red again, “..or this buttonto go down,” Ethan pointed at the lower button, “It’ll turn orange when it’s ready.  Then, you just step in, and away you go!”

Lewis looked at it with suspicion, “I’m not going to fall to my death?”  

Ethan laughed, “Just remember blue for up, and orange for down.”

Lewis pushed the upper button and waited for it to turn blue.  He swallowed hard and stepped in.  It took all he had to keep his arms from flailing, as he was whisked speedily up the lift with the air flow and entered a spacious apartment.  Grampa Ethan came up right behind him.  

A delicious smell greeted them as they walked into the suite.  It was an instant reminder to Lewis, that not only was he tired, but also hungry.  Torkon stood there laughing, “I forgot to explain the lift to you Loo-iss!  My apologies!”

The meal waiting for them turned into a success, with Lewis tasting and liking most of the dishes offered.  There was only a slight hesitation when the first bite of proep passed his lips.

“What is this?” Lewis asked, looking at the food held on his freefm.  “That,” said Torkon “is the curd of qaalumii milk, mixed with flibbl and meiklop.  The dish is called  proep!”

“Ah yes, I remember eating proep when I was a kid!” exclaimed Grampa.

“I know what flibbl is!”  Lewis said, “It’s what we call gravy or sauce.  But what’s meiklop?”

Torkon smiled.  “You have some new words to learn then.  Meiklop is a vegetable.”  He called the cook in from the kitchen and asked Fudok  if he still had some fresh meiklop on hand.  Fudok turned around, disappeared back into the kitchen and came back a moment later with a greenish and white speckled thing in his hand, shaped like an accordion.

“This is meiklop, young hu-man.” He said.

“Tastes not too bad.” said Lewis, politely, but he didn’t eat all of what had been served on his plate.  Torkon knew it wouldn’t be his favourite.  Meiklop had a slightly bitter taste to it,  even though the sweet qaalumii milk cut it a bit.

Dinner finished, Torkon could see that Lewis was getting a little weary.  He’d been awake a long time, and knowing that Gizmok days were thirty-two Urf hours long, not twenty-four like the boy’s home planet, he would be tired by now.  Torkon showed him where he’d be sleeping, and hinted that he might want to rest.  Lewis quickly took the suggestion.

The door to his room closed and he looked around.  He’d had to duck going through the opening, and sat on the bed, getting a feel for it.  Stretching out he found that the bed had ample room for his long legs.  He wondered if Torkon had somehow special-ordered the bed, since it wasn’t as short as what a floog would need.  He didn’t think it would have happened that quickly, since no one knew that Lewis would be coming, did they?  Or had Xerix at some point called ahead and informed them?

It was a puzzle and Lewis made a point, as he drifted off to sleep, that he would ask Torkon in the morning.  It was one of many, many questions that he had.  And then all questions were forgotten in the enveloping sleep.