So anyway, (
between relishing all the free time I have now for RL things like college, friends, etc,
and missing the mindless blur of a pounce-streak every time I see a fluorescent light) I found the time to write a short story (one chapter) based on my completed
fan-fiction. This story is much shorter(and more or less standalone), and I sincerely hope you enjoy it.
GRANGER ISLAND
2 months have passed since the end of Kyp the Granger The mood was different somehow, Marty noticed, as he walked slowly through the park. People seemed more cheerful, more optimistic. The guys would nod and give him a thumbs-up as they passed, and pairs of girls would smile warmly at him, or turn to face each other and giggle. Yes, things had changed since the Hivemind had fallen. Marty turned to his companion.
"It's not just because I'm a decorated war hero, is it? Everyone seems happier..." he asked.
"I'm sure it's related, but I see what you mean. Why are you asking me, though? Human moods are still a mystery to me," replied Kyp.
"You'll get them with time," reassured Marty, taking his weight off of his cane and slumping onto a park bench. "Look how fast they got used to
you. They barely notice you."
"That's what
you think," said Kyp. He tried valiantly to mount the bench, but decided the weight of both of them would be too risky, and so bumbled around to sit in the grass on Marty's side. The sweet air of a Ventas evening was like a cool balm on their skin, and the sky, streaked with orange and red, was hypnotic.
"They don't mind you at all." Marty said again, firmly. "First of all, word is that
all alie- , all of
you have dropped aggressive tendencies after the final operation. Secondly," and he said this with some ruefullness, "I'm a hero, and no one tells me what I can't do." He looked down at Kyp, and awaited the next worry that would surely come out of the granger's oddly shaped mouth. Kyp appeared to chew over these ideas for some time. After a few minutes, he spoke.
"That's true, I guess. Good thing you came back for me," Kyp said.
"Hey, I'm just glad you came along. I would have been completely baffled about what was going on otherwise. You still have to tell me what was going on with Roslyn and Jake. I get the feeling that I missed something big."
Kyp rolled one set of eyes with mild frustration. "Like I've said before, I'll tell you everything once you've recovered." Kyp was referring to the fact that Marty had been badly injured before escaping from the alien homeworld, and had only been released from convalescence about two weeks earlier. He was also on several types of medication.
Marty, having enjoyed enough of the sunset, heaved himself back up and started back along the footpath that they had taken to get there. "Well, we best start heading back. I have to take that new pill that Kruetz is having me try. He says it's supposed to clear up the last of my headaches and dizziness."
Kyp barked a quick laugh. These always sounded like a cat choking on a furball, but Marty had begun to recognise them for what they were.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," sighed Marty, groaning a bit at the effort of climbing the steps out of the park. "You don't get the concept of not being able to heal yourself, I get it. Well guess what? You're just as weird to me!"
"If I'm that weird, maybe I should just stay at your house," suggested Kyp.
"Why?"
"Well, I already messed up your chances at the restaurant last night. Or you gave me that feeling, anyway."
"Oh, you mean my date," realized Marty. "Eh, it wouldn't have worked out anyway. She just wasn't my type."
"Yeah, but the nail in the coffin was bringing me along. Remember that look she gave you when you suggested that she pet me? It was like fear, confusion, and then more fear."
"Give her
some credit, she did make an effort," said Marty.
"To pet me? I don't know if you were paying attention, but her hands were six inches away when she started pretending to pet me. It's like she didn't want to get close or something. Then a few minutes later she makes an excuse to leave and doesn't come back. What's with
that?"
"Don't dwell on her, Kyp. I'm sure as hell not," he said. They walked down the sidewalk, side by side, in the fading light. The people on the street were becoming fewer and fewer. There were no more artificial atmospheric lights these nights; the V-Boot had been shut down when the Coalition seized all of the Lucifer Corporation's assets. The people had not taken kindly to being betrayed by one of the oldest companies in memory. Martin Spencer's testimony of what he had seen from the crashed shuttle before his escape had sealed the deal against LC, and the peoples' relief at the end of the conflict had been mixed with a new scramble for awareness of what the companies that they took for granted were up to.
Arriving at Marty's house, they entered and made preparations for bedtime. Faster than Marty could say "nighty-night!", Kyp had curled himself into the basket at the foot of Marty's bed. Marty smiled sideways and wondered off to the bathroom. Still on the sink, from earlier, was the paper bag with his new pills in it. He lifted the container out and gave the contents a dubious look. Horse-pills.
More fun, thought Martin. Dr. Kruetz had been prescribing one medication after another for the last month. Marty had no idea why, since each successive medicine had no tangible effect on him. When he told Kruetz of this, the old doctor had been a little more worried each time, but wouldn't hint as to why.
"Better get it over with," said Marty, popping one in and throwing back. Hygiene done, he slid into bed and turned out the light.
****
The next morning, Marty had the shock of the month when he found that Kyp had disappeared.
For about three whole hours, he scoured every corner of his bungalow, looking for the porky alien. It wasn't until thirty-minutes before his appointment with Kruetz that he finally found Kyp hiding behind a box in the basement.
"What are you doing?" cried Marty, out of breath and venting his frustration. "Well?"
Kyp said nothing, and did not change his expression or move.
"This is no time for new tricks for me to worry about, come on, I have somewhere to be in a few minutes! Come on!"
This time Kyp nodded and ambled up the basement stairs ahead of a sweaty Martin Spencer. Just on the welcome mat, Marty turned to him. "Now stay here, I have to get my coat," he said clearly. Kyp's mouth moved, but no sound came out.
"What's that?" asked Marty. Kyp didn't try again. Marty walked into the kitchen, grabbed his coat off of the chair he had left it on, and scrambled back, apparently afraid that Kyp would ghost on him again. When he reached the front door, Kyp was still there, waiting.
"Ok, let's go," said Marty. He locked the house up and set off at a brisk pace, glancing over his shoulder every few seconds to make sure Kyp was still there. He'd have to set up some ground rules for the future, he realized, just as soon as he found out what was wrong with Kyp.
Arriving at Kruetz' office, he hurried up to the receptionist, hoping he wasn't too late. She smiled with recognition and waved him back. At the end of the hall, she paused and knocked on the doctor's door.
"Mr. Spencer is here for his ten-thirty," she called cheerily.
"Good, send him in," said a muffled voice. She opened the door and beckoned him in, not seeming to notice Kyp at all.
"These people have adjusted well," thought Marty, with a hint of racial pride. He strode in and Kruetz rose to shake his hand.
"And how is my favorite patient today?" asked the aging Aryan with warm concern.
"I feel pretty good, doctor."
"Did you start taking your new prescription like I ordered?" he pressed, and motioned for Marty to sit down.
"Yes, I did. I don't really notice any....um - " Marty became distracted. "Sorry, I seem to have left my granger in the hall."
"Oh...you brought him again, have you?" said Kruetz, his face falling a little. "Couldn't you at least have left him at home?"
Marty had stepped back over and opened the door. Kyp looked up at him with an expression of indignant ire, and shuffled in. Closing the door, Marty noticed that Kruetz was watching him intently.
"Well, I'm sorry, I would have, but he disappeared this morning and I had to look for him for hours. Leaving him was too risky. He's a great pet, and I don't want to be lonely."
Kruetz eyes had widened at this news. "So he disappeared for some hours, then?
This morning?"
"Yes."
"And, just now, you didn't see him in the room; you had to get him from the hall?" continued Kruetz, again pushing Marty into a chair.
"Well that was hardly his fault, the door closed on him."
"Alright, just one more question," said Kruetz, sitting on the edge of his desk. "You were supposed to take your new pill before bed, and right when you wake up. Did you do that this morning?"
"Yes," said Marty, unsure about the look of triumph on his doctor's face. He glanced down at Kyp. There was only empty carpet. Kyp had shifted over to the other side of the chair. Marty wished he'd stop doing that. It was freaking him out. Kruetz walked around to the back of his desk and sat down. His brief look of triumph had given way to the usual concerned look. Moments later, that look changed to a new, resolute expression.
"Okay Marty, it looks like we've finally found the right pill for the job." he said.
"Uh, right. I don't feel any different."
"Martin, I have something to tell you. It's about that 'pet' of yours." said Kruetz, carefully.
"Kyp? Oh, don't worry, most people have gotten used to him. People barely turn their heads anymore..."
"Well, that's just the thing," said Kruetz. "
They can't see him."
Martin guffawed. "I find that hard to believe. I take him out almost every - "
Kruetz cut him off. "Marty, they can't see him,
because he's not there...."
Marty burst into a laugh. "What are you talking about?" he smiled widely. "He's right - " Marty looked down to his right. There was nothing but empty carpet. He swivelled his chair, but Kyp was not in the room.
"Okay, where'd ..." Marty's query was frozen as he looked at Kruetz. The old doctor was peering over his glasses at him sympathetically. Marty's mouth hung open, then shut. The doctor nodded at him slowly.
Suddenly, Marty realized what was being said. He saw the pieces of the puzzle falling together. His head injury; his garbled memories; his being forced to try one medication after another; and lastly, Kyp's truancies. And, in the realization, a deep, cold pit opened in his gut. He felt all the air leave the room, and sensed an infinite sadness creep into him.
"Are you saying that I'm....
oh God no........that I'm...
alone?" he choked out.
"Yes," said Kruetz softly.
"...there is no granger."
The End
