Author's Note: I'm just brushing the important parts of Kiore/Loki's life. In this chapter he is nineteen.
Chapter 10 The Cat
Loki sighed and wiped the sweat off his face with a dirty rag. It was hot, on this planet. He wasn't even sure where he was anymore. He had been spat out of the portal into an unknown spacescape. He had also suffered minor damages to his ship so he had but down on the nearest planet he had found. Once his ship was up and running he could easily plot a new course that would allow him to get back to charted space.
The planet seemed barren, devoid of all life except for strange plants and small rodent-like creatures that scurried over the red wasteland. There was no water in sight and Loki wondered how anything survived here. Loki shook his head and gave the screws one last turn before he went in to his ship.
F.A.D.E. had suggested that he stay inside during the hottest part of the day and Loki concurred with the computer's statement. He spent the hottest part of the day in his ship sleeping while F.A.D.E. watched the outside temperatures and wildlife. If anything dangerous approached the ship would go in lock down.
Loki woke to small paws scurrying around on his face. "Whoa." He sat up and wiped at the rodent franticly.
"F.A.D.E. how did it get in," Loki asked as he reached over grabbed his water glass and scooped up the rodent.
"There is a small hole in the hull. You were going to fix it latter, and apparently that animal squeezed in."
"I better fix it now before anything else gets in. F.A.D.E please scan the ship. I want to know if there are any other rodents in here. "
"Right away Master Loki," F.A.D.E. replied. "I believe that is the only one though."
Loki opened the door and gathered his tools before grabbing a light and going out to fix the hole in his hull. He worked most of the night on his ship to get it in working order before testing the systems again. F.A.D.E. gave the all clear in the morning and Loki set a course for the spot where he had arrived from. With luck he might be able to work out his position or call for help on the police scanner.
Three hours latter Loki ran the last program through F.A.D.E. and went to the gallery to get something to eat. He opened the cabinet where he kept his plates and yelped as s fire ball flew out of the metal cabinet and on to his chest. He shoved the fire thing away from him and hit the ground rolling to put out the fire as F.A.D.E. turned on the fire dampers.
Loki flexed his hands, glad he had been wearing gloves and looked at what had at what had attacked him. A red kitten was standing rather soggy on his gallery floor. It gave a pitiful mew and looked up at him with bright green eyes.
Loki shook off the water that had fallen from the ceiling and told F.A.D.E. to turn off the water. F.A.D.E. did as commanded and Loki carefully approached the kitten. As he did so it burst into flames snarling a little.
"F.A.D.E. don't turn the water back on," Loki ordered quickly.
"If you say so Master Loki," F.A.D.E. replied.
"Come here kitty," Loki said. "Don't set the place on fire." He rummaged in a drawer and pulled out an unopened box of dog biscuits. "I forgot I had these," he muttered as he ripped the box open and offered the cat one of the treats.
The kitten approached warily then darted in and snatched the treat out of his hand. The kitten's paws flared and it cooked the treat to a crisp. It tried to take a bite and spat it out again with a mew.
"No you're not supposed to cook it," Loki said laughing. He offered another biscuit and held it safely over the kitten's head. "Cool down. No more fire please." The kitten flickered then died out. "Good girl." He gave her the treat and watched as she wolfed it down.
She looked up for more and Loki quickly made her some diced up meat on a small saucer and placed it on the ground. "I guess you're coming with me girl but what to name you?"
"How about Sasha," F.A.D.E. interjected.
"That sounds nice," Loki remarked reaching over carefully. The kitten rubbed its head against his palm purring. "I guess that settles it Sasha, though if you are staying I better invest in some fireproof clothing." Loki looked down at his singed shirt and sighed before going to change. When he got back Sasha was sitting in the co-pilot's chair sleeping. Loki just sat in the pilot's chair and piloted them back home. He was no longer alone, and boy was he glad he had kept that free sample of liver flavored dog biscuits.