Chapter Eight
Oh, Kyle! Sophie moaned as she took great handfuls of the sheets, the pleasure of what her mate was doing to her coursing through every fiber of her being. She gave a soft hiss, almost a gasp. Her tail was weaving back and forth as she reveled in her mate's touch.
Kyle smiled from where he sat at the end of the bed, gently massaging Sophie's feet as she lay on her belly.
I'm glad you like it, Sophie, Kyle said as his thumbs gently rubbed the soles of her feet. She replied with a soft gasp, pulling at the sheets in pleasure.
Oh, Kyle I love you so much, Sophie crooned. He smiled further as he softly ran his fingers across her feet.
Sophie's feet were mostly like that of a human, with an arch, heel and toes, but her feet were longer. She purred deeper as Kyle softly touched the spur-like twin tubes at the back of her heels. Ah, that feels good, Sophie purred as her tail lovingly stroked Kyle's face. He kissed her tail as he continued the massage. Through their link, Kyle could feel how good it felt for Sophie, sharing in her pleasure and comfort. It had been the same for Sophie when she had given Kyle a massage for his sore muscles. With their Bond, they could feel each other's pleasure, and pain, happiness, and sorrow. As Kyle watched his beloved mate and partner writhe on the sheets in bliss, he thought on how close they were, how two humans could never share the way they did. He closed his eyes, smiling warmly as he let his warm thoughts of love and appreciation flow through their link.
He was surprised when Sophie softly jerked her leg against his grip. Kyle blinked as he felt the sensation. He grinned as he recognized it.
"Ah, ticklish, are we?" Kyle said in a low devilish voice. Sophie tensed.
Kyle . . . His fingers gently danced across her sensitive soles. Sophie gave a soft screech of surprise. Kyle's grin grew as he held her feet against his chest and delicately tickled her. Kyle, stop it! Sophie protested and she wiggled against him. Kyle took delight in this wonderful torture, continuing to tickle Sophie's feet as she tried to wriggle out of his grip. With her strength, if she truly wanted to, she easily could have escaped his grasp, but could also easily hurt Kyle in the process. That aside, it was all in fun on both sides. Sophie screeched and hissed as she wriggled in an attempt to free herself. Sophie barely restrained herself from shredding the sheets, instead slapping and pounding the bed with her hands and tail. All right! I give up! I submit! Sophie pleaded. Kyle rolled his eyes in thought.
All right, I'll let up, as long as I get a kiss from the pretty lady, said Kyle in a mischievous tone.
No sooner did he release her, than she swiftly turned with a soft growl, grabbing him in her powerful sleek arms and holding him tight.
Now it's Sophie's turn! she in a low tone that promised much pay-back. Kyle only smiled.
What about that kiss? Sophie grinned, her teeth glistening in the light.
Oh, you get a kiss, but you didn't say where I can kiss, Sophie replied as she pulled Kyle's shirt off and began to kiss his sensitive chest. Kyle began to laugh, the tables turned.
After a long back-and-forth tickle battle, they called a truce and decided to just cuddle.
I love you, Sophie, said Kyle as Sophie gently stroked his hair. She purred as she kissed his cheek, her long fingers softly stroking his hair and the bare skin of his back.
And I love you, my sweet wonderful mate, my loving friend. Kyle pulled back enough to kiss Sophie on her soft, warm lips. She purred deeply and warmly at the contact. Mmm, you taste good, said Sophie as she gently cupped Kyle's face. As they pulled apart, Kyle couldn't help a slight blush. He lovingly caressed Sophie's cheek, his fingers delicately caressing the tendons and muscles of her face. Sophie purred as Kyle's finger ran across one of the tubes on the side of her head. She softly leaned her head against his hand, enjoying the feeling of her mate's touch.
Her skin was slightly wet, but warm, and never unpleasant to touch. His fingers gently ran across the smooth, translucent carapace of the top of Sophie's head, carefully tracing the smooth, flowing lines. By the same token, Sophie carefully traced the line of Kyle's jaw with her long, dark fingers, her silvery claws always very careful around his sensitive flesh. She purred as she caressed his cheeks with her thumbs with the greatest of care, always slow and careful. Kyle's emerald eyes shimmered with warmth and affection as Sophie caressed his face with supreme tenderness and love. Kyle turned his head and lovingly kissed her hand as Sophie thrummed deeply. Sophie pulled him tighter against her, letting her feelings flow through their link. There was no need for words, their feelings said far more than words ever could.
XXX
The fog had rolled in very quickly that evening. It wasn't cold, thankfully. Sophie liked the mists and fog, it seemed to evoke something comfortable in her. They had been out to explore and see if other shops that sold nice cakes and treats, while they waited for Shiloh and Leon to return.
This is a really neat place, said Kyle as they walked down the sidewalk. Sophie purred gently as she walked just behind him.
It really is. Such a fascinating place. Kyle smiled as the lamps on the streets came to life, glowing in the fog. Sophie could perceive the world around her unimpeded by the fog. If Kyle needed, he could link to Sophie's mind, but there's wasn't much of a need.
Now, where are we? Kyle wondered. Sophie gave a very soft moan, almost inaudible.
I'm pretty sure we're somewhere by the taverns, Sophie replied. Kyle frowned as he looked around, turning the collar of his jacket up. The layout of Zeraven wasn't exactly a labyrinth, but it could be confusing to those not yet used to it. Even Sophie got turned around once. Kyle looked down the sidewalk and saw a gap between two buildings. He headed in that direction, Sophie following.
Kyle was surprised when Sophie's tail wound around him, stopping him.
"Goddamned bastards!" someone cursed from the alley. Kyle frowned as Sophie growled, smelling aggression in the scents of the human males in the alley. "They wouldn't let me in that forest because of those damn dog-people! Mangy mongrels!" the voice spat. Kyle blinked in confusion.
"Dog-people"? Is he talking about the Milurians? Kyle thought. Sophie gave a soft growl.
"Yeah! And that bastard Leon tossed me outta his shop 'cause I said I didn't want dog hair in my coffee or fleas!" said another growled, louder at this, shaking from the top of her head down to her tail. Kyle stifled a gasp as Sophie made to move towards the alley.
Sophie, don't! Kyle warned.
"This planet was founded by humans! We ought to toss out all the damn squids, monkey-men and those damn lap-dogs! All of 'em! And those damn yetis, too! I ain't afraid of 'em!" growled another man. Kyle's stomach was turning at the vitriol.
"Yeah, you tell 'em, Len!" said another man. Sophie's teeth were bared, she was almost drooling in fury.
"You Reichstag rejects!" shouted a new voice. Kyle and Sophie were surprised to hear this new voice. It was a man's, with a hint of an accent. "You all are a bunch of filth! You shame the memory of Tobias! All of you!" shouted the man.
"Oh, it's the kennel-keeper!" Len sneered. Sophie growled again.
"How would you lot like your tongues seared?" said a clipped, British-accented voice. At this, the group of men sounded nervous.
"Oh, we didn't mean it! Had too much to drink!" said one of the men, clearly nervous. Sophie could smell the fear in the man's scent. There was a disbelieving huff.
"Vino veritas. 'Truth in wine', as they say," replied the British-accented voice, an edge of sharpened steel to the tone. Kyle could hear the men shuffling away.
"Bah! Men like that are a shame on humanity!" spat the other voice, the one that had confronted them. There was an angry, but agreeing grumble from the man with the British accent.
As Sophie focused, she could hear that mean one, "Len", they had called him, mutter to the others.
"We'll make sure nobody buys from that fat SOB's shop," he angrily vowed. Kyle held Sophie's hand, giving her warm, loving thoughts to calm her.
There's always people like that, no matter where you go. Take it easy, and let's just go back to the ship, said Kyle. Sophie gave a positive, but Kyle could clearly feel how angry she was. At the very least, she wanted to hang those men by their underwear from a cliff.
XXX
Back in the Talon, Sophie was still angry, her tail twitching with agitation.
Nasty, horrible, evil, mean-spirited creatures! Sophie growled, unable, and unwilling to hide her anger. Kyle managed a smile from where he sat in the pilot's chair.
I know, Sophie. People like that really gall me, too, said Kyle as he looked over the file. Kyle smiled. "Ah, here! Come take a look." Sophie growled softly as she approached. Kyle had brought up the Zerich's law codes, and what was displayed made her grin:
Article 9; hate speech. Hateful speech that advocates violence and/or discrimination against, or degrades the dignity of any other being shall not be tolerated. Punishment as follows: ¢10,000 fine, two years probation for a first offense; ¢50,000, psychological evaluation and rehabilitation for second offense; third offense punished by revocation of Citizenship, deportation.
Kyle stared at the screen, amazed. "Wow. They're really not kidding," Kyle muttered. Sophie growled with approval.
Good! Such nasty, evil hate should be punished, Sophie growled. Kyle smiled sadly, nodding.
Humans liked to think they had made many advances in terms of culture and relations over the centuries, but the truth was, they were no different than they were in the Twentieth Century. Hatred, racism, fear, discrimination, they all still existed, and were not likely to be gotten rid of any time soon. It was one of the bad points of human individuality. Coming from a people that shared all their thoughts, feelings, emotions and sensations with each other, Sophie couldn't comprehend such hatred of others. Then again, neither could Kyle.
I guess it all comes down to fear, Sophie. Fear of the unknown, fear of what they don't understand, fear of change. I don't know. People far smarter than me have wondered on it for centuries. Sophie moaned softly as she wrapped her arms around Kyle.
At least they don't tolerate that kind of meanness. Being tolerant of that, makes them intolerant too. Kyle smiled as Sophie gently kissed his cheek. It troubled Kyle, what they had heard, but it made him feel better to read the law codes. No world was perfect, Zerichs II was no exception. The fact that the people took a stand against such evil was a good sign, though.
"'Evil triumphs when good men do nothing'," Kyle quoted. Sophie purred as she nuzzled him.
And you're a good man, Kyle. Kyle closed his eyes and stroked Sophie's face.
Thank you, darling.
XXX
The next day, Kyle decided to visit Granny Rose and tell her about what happened. She seemed to have quite a few contacts. Besides, he wanted to see her, as did Sophie.
As they were walking towards the port, they heard a familiar voice.
"You forgot your sausages!" Kyle stopped, as did Sophie.
That voice! said Kyle. It was the accented voice that had confronted those men. Kyle looked up as he saw the door of a building close. Kyle blinked on astonishment as he and Sophie came closer. Sophie gave a soft hiss and became excited at the wonderful smells. Kyle glanced up at the sign above the door: Old World Butchery. Sophie was almost bouncing on her feet at the wonderful smells of smoked meat and other goodies inside. Kyle smiled at her. This time, she wanted to come in with him.
The bell above the door rang as they entered.
"With you in a minute!" called out the same voice from the back. Kyle smiled as he looked around.
The shop was filled with wonderful smells, glass cases lining the wall, filled with sausages, meats and all manner of good foods. Sophie purred as she looked at a case with legs of lamb, beef and other whole cuts of meat in it.
I already like this place! Kyle grinned.
"Welcome!" said a jovial voice. Kyle looked up, and finally met the source of the voice.
The man was a little portly, his hair was thinning, but his rosy cheeks rose above a wide smile. "Welcome to my shop!" said the man. Kyle smiled as Sophie was trying not to drool all over the place. "What can I do for you?" Kyle glanced around with delighted hungry eyes.
"We were looking around, decided to have a look here," said Kyle as the man wiped his hands on his apron. The man squinted for a moment at Kyle, noticing his lanyard.
"Ah! New immigrants! Welcome to Zerichs II!" said the man as he shook Kyle's hand. "I'm Hans. If it's good meats you need, I have the best selection in the whole city!" Kyle smiled at Hans.
"Yeah, I've never seen so much meat before in my life," said Kyle as he glanced around. Hans smiled wider at this.
"Ah! Wait right there! I have something you'll like!" said Hans, hurrying to the back. Sophie trilled happily as she stood next to Kyle.
What a nice man. And such a wonderful place, said Sophie as she took in the smells. Hans quickly returned with a large platter of huge sausages.
"Here, for you to try and take home. My sample platter. I call it 'The Best of The Wurst'!" said Hans with a shy laugh. Hans blinked in surprise when he saw Sophie. "Ah, a Shamolene? I have some dishes from Shamolea, if you like." Kyle smiled as he broke off part of one of the sausages.
"Thanks. This is Sophie," said Kyle as he tried some bratwurst. Kyle couldn't help a grin at the wonderful flavor. Sophie tried some as well, giving a trill of approval. Hans was all smiles.
"Please enjoy the sausages, and your stay. New people are always welcome here," said Hans. Kyle smiled wider. "If you'll excuse me, I have to get something in the back. Back in a moment," said Hans as he left the room. Sophie purred as she ate one of the delicious bratwurst.
Kyle, it's delicious! Kyle smiled wider. Sophie gave a soft growl as he heard a door open.
"What'a ya doing?" said a voice. Sophie growled more as she listened. Kyle frowned as she linked her mind to his, letting him hear what he couldn't without her sensitive hearing.
"I was delivering to the butcher," said another voice.
"You're in arrears, and if ya don't want to get yerself in trouble, ya won't deliver to freak-lovers like him. Get me?" growled the human man's voice. Something about the aggressive voice was familiar. Sophie growled as she smelled the scent of a human male, who she could sense through the walls.
"I . . .understand," said the other voice, sounding fearful. Kyle's jaw dropped open in shock as they heard the door close. He managed to recover as Hans came in and looked at the clock.
"Hmm, delivery's late today," said Hans absently. It all clicked in Kyle's mind. Sophie moaned sadly. Kyle looked at the case of meats and smiled as a plan formed.
"We'd like to buy some meat from you," said Kyle decisively. Hans clapped his hands.
"Splendid! What would you like?" Kyle grinned at him. Kyle pointed inside the refrigerated cases.
"That, that, that, that and that," said Kyle, pointing at all kinds of cuts of meat and other things. Hans looked a little bewildered at the large order, scratching his head.
"Oh, uh. Well, how much would you like?" Hans asked. Kyle grinned wider as Sophie purred.
"All of it," Kyle stated firmly.
XXX
Kyle couldn't hide his smile as he and Sophie returned with the money as the shocked Hans filled their order. I'm not gonna just stand by while some nasty, racist drunkard bastards put this nice man out of business! Kyle mentally growled as they reentered the shop.
Hans had virtually emptied his whole shop to fill the large order. Kyle gave a soft grunt as he hefted one of the smaller gold bars and set it on the counter, Sophie doing likewise with the other two. Hans' jaw dropped open, his eyes wide.
"Mein gott!" he breathed, his German accent more pronounced. Kyle smiled as Sophie purred.
"Consider this a payment forward on our tab. We're gonna be coming by a lot," said Kyle with a grin. Hans looked at Kyle, looking close to tears. He hid it quickly, giving a shaky smile.
"Thank you so much! That's a lot to carry. Where do you want it delivered?" Hans asked. Kyle smiled warmly.
"It's not all for us. The uncut meats go to our ship in the docks. The rest goes to two addresses in the port," said Kyle. Hans stared at them for a moment, before grinning.
"Yes, sir!" said Hans with the widest smile Kyle had ever seen. Kyle gave him the addresses of the green grocer and Granny Rose's shop. As Hans wrote down the addresses, he noticed something and looked closer at Kyle. "Are you from one of the Tribes?" Hans asked. Kyle's eyes widened at that.
"Uh, no. What do you ask?" Hans looked carefully at Kyle.
"You look Celtic. The cheekbones and nose are a dead giveaway, not to mention the hair," said Hans. Kyle blinked, bewildered. It was true, his family name, Williams, came from Cornwall, but Kyle had never really thought of himself as a Celt before. Sophie was amused, wrapping her arms around Kyle and purring. Hans smiled wider at the two of them.
"Thank you both, so much. Please come by again," said Hans. They nodded.
As Kyle and Sophie were leaving the shop, they saw something on the wall and stopped. It was a long scroll, framed on the wall. It was written in elegant calligraphy by a trained hand on parchment:
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I did not speak out;
Because I was not a communist.
When they came for the social democrats,
I did not speak out;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I did not speak out;
I was not Jewish.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
Speak up! Speak out!
ALWAYS CARE!
Kyle smiled at the writings. Sophie purred at the message.
Important words, said Sophie. Kyle agreed at they left the shop and headed for the port. Kyle reminded himself that German and Nazi were not the same thing. In fact, some of the worst enemies of the Neo-Nazi Reich were Germans, who thought of the Nazis as an abomination and a shame on German history, and the whole of humanity.
XXX
Kyle couldn't help smiling as he saw Gur looking bewildered as he signed for the delivery.
"Hey, Gur. Got yourself something good?" Kyle asked as they approached. Gur looked at them and twittered, his feelers shaking.
"Well, bless my soul! I should have known you two had something to do with it," Granny Rose chuckled. Kyle smiled wider and Sophie purred. "Come in, both of you!" she said happily as Gur took to the task of bringing in the large order of meat.
Kyle told Granny Rose what they had heard from those men, and of the intimidation of the delivery man. Granny Rose wore a deeper frown than any they had seen before. "Thank you two so much for what you did for Hans. He's a good man who cares very much about the community." Granny Rose sighed as she looked into her teacup. "It's shameful that such hate can still flourish, even in a place like this," she said softly. Sophie moaned as she took Granny Rose's hand and held it.
"But at least we were able to do something to help," said Kyle. Granny Rose smiled at that.
"Yes. Thank you my boy." Gur twittered as he came in from the back of the shop and sat down.
"Much meat, good meat. Good food, long time. Stew, shanks, broth. Feed many, good, good eat," said Gur through his keyboard. Kyle smiled and nodded. Granny Rose smiled.
"He's right. That's much too much for us, so some of it I'll give to people who need it," said Granny Rose. Kyle smiled wider and Sophie purred.
"That's what we thought, but do keep some for yourself," said Kyle. Granny Rose smiled warmly at him.
"Don't you worry, dearie. We will. Gur is particularly fond of beef stew." Gur trilled and whistled at this, his feelers waving and clicking his beak. "And as far as those bounders are concerned, they're in very deep trouble, mark my words," said Granny Rose, an edge to her voice.
"But the important thing is to undo the damage they did to Hans' business. If people won't shop there-" Granny Rose smiled as she held up her hand.
"Don't you worry yourselves. I have some friends who can help spread the word. Hans will be fine." Granny Rose sipped her tea as she looked at Kyle and Sophie. "By the way, Kyle," she began. Kyle looked at her. Granny Rose smiled as she brought something out from her pocket. "I heard you humming a tune a while back, and it made me remember something," she said as she brought out a disk. She handed it to Kyle. He blinked as he read the label: The Complete Works of Eric Clapton. Kyle looked up at her, smiling.
"Thank you, Granny." Before he could even move, she held up her hand.
"It's a gift, dearborn. For all you've done." Kyle smiled as he leaned forward and hugged her. Sophie purred deeply.
I'm glad we know her. She's a wonderful friend, said Sophie. Kyle looked at Gur, who twittered, his feelers twitching. Kyle smiled as he reached out and took Gur's hand.
"Thank you, too, Gur. You've helped us just as much." Gur bowed his head, his eyes closed, feelers tucked against his head.
XXX
Back on board the Talon, Kyle was reading over land and house listings. As nice as Zeraven was, the incident had called home the very reason they had come there in the first place. Zeraven still was a city, with many people, and not all of them were as friendly or helpful as Granny Rose, Gur, Leon and Shiloh or Hans. All it would take is someone like that Len or one of his friends to blab to someone Off-World, and Weyland-Yutani might find them. It was one thing for people to see Sophie in her burnoose, it was quite another to see her without it, which, thankfully, nobody had.
Kyle frowned as he typed on the keyboard, his eyes flicking up to the holo-screen, then back to the keyboard. Thankfully, there were listings of all homes, and even islands for sale. He scratched his head as he thought, and entered a price range; between ¢20,000 and ¢35,000. He sighed softly as the computer searched within the specified price range. As he waited, he looked back at Sophie, who was in heaven as she partook of the wonderful meats they had bought from Hans.
Currently, she was eating one of the shanks of Cerga meat, with a side of whole uncooked liver and some pancreas. Her strong teeth were easily able to crunch the bone. He could feel her delight through their link, as well as how much she liked the taste.
I'm glad you're happy, love, said Kyle. She swallowed a chunk of meat and purred.
Thank you Kyle. She looked at him and thrummed as she softly smiled. You get me good food, you show me amazing places and things, you teach me, you cuddle with me. I love you so much. Kyle smiled warmly at her words and soft feelings.
Thank you, Sophie. I wouldn't be anything without you. Except cold and alone. She purred as she approached, gently wrapping her arms around him.
My Kyle, my mate, my Bonded One. I'm always with you, always here for you. Kyle smiled as he delicately held her hand against his chest.
We're partners. Sophie gave a positive, thrumming deeply. The computer beeped as it finished searching. "Ah, here we go," said Kyle as he looked. Sophie tilted her head.
What are you looking at? Sophie asked. Kyle smiled as he brought up the results.
I'm looking at the listings for homes. I figured we'd waited long enough, said Kyle as he looked. He frowned at some of the prices. A house on an island at the top was ¢33,000, but it was almost in the very middle, and the island was hilly and without any tall trees. Sophie gave a negative, but was interested. He smiled as they scrolled through the results. A couple of the higher-priced listings included the island, but at the price Kyle had listed, they were mostly small, rocky atolls. Kyle had expected as much, but he didn't lose hope. While they could afford more than ¢35,000, Kyle wanted them to have something in savings, as security, just in case. He also wanted to keep enough in case they saw an island they liked, but needed to build their own house, which might be the case.
As Kyle looked, Sophie suddenly hissed.
There! she said as she pointed at one listing. It was for a whole island. Kyle raised an eyebrow as he read:
Eramore Island. ¢26,000 (Reduced from ¢31,000)
Approx. 37 square miles, 2160 acres. (Not including sea-line) Mostly forest, some marshes. Primarily granite, Coralyte. Good water, well. Two-story, five-bedroom, three-bathroom homestead.
Kyle stared at the screen, looking at the pictures of the green island, covered in thick, lush forests. Sophie gave a trill, rising in volume and pitch as they saw a picture of a clearing in the forest, where there was a house. Sophie hugged Kyle tightly, her tail waving back and forth. Oh, Kyle! Look! It's wonderful! It's perfect! Kyle had to gently pull Sophie's arm, her grip a little too tight.
You're right, it does look wonderful, but let's take a closer look before we commit ourselves. I want to see it first-hand before we decide, said Kyle as he looked over the data. The land merchant's number was at the bottom of the listing. Kyle got up and headed for the cargo bay, Sophie giving a curious trill as she followed.
What are you doing? Sophie asked. Kyle grunted as he climbed down the ladder.
I know there was a headset among all the gear Reinhardt had stashed in here, I just have to find it, said Kyle as he opened the equipment locker. Sophie trilled as he looked over the gadgets and gizmos inside. Ah, here it is! said Kyle as he brought out a small piece to fit in his ear. He turned it on and looked at the datapad with it. As he thought, it had been programmed to link directly to the ships main computer. Kyle put the piece in his ear before heading back into the cabin. When he sat back down in the pilot's chair, he clicked the setting for the feed. The screen flickered and showed the view of the cabin. He turned his head, and the screen boldly displayed Sophie, in all her beautiful obsidian glory. "Hey! You look good in HD!" Kyle said with a grin. Sophie tilted her head in such a cute manner.
You're funny, she replied, earning a laugh from him. Kyle smiled as he closed the feed and looked up the number of the merchant.
You'll need to hide, Sophie. This is a video-phone, Kyle warned. Sophie gave a soft hiss and hunkered down out of sight, almost curled around his feet as the console beeped. The screen flickered before displaying the face of a man with a trimmed beard.
"Hello?" replied the merchant. Kyle took a deep breath, feeling nervous. He smiled as he felt Sophie's mind caress his, and her hand gently touch his leg in comfort and support.
"Uh, yeah. I was calling about the island for sale," said Kyle.
"Which one? Got several," the merchant replied, sounding both pleased, and a little grumpy.
"Uh, Eramore," Kyle replied. There was a pause.
"Well, you called just in time! Had several people lookin' at it!" Kyle wasn't sure if that was true or not, but he pushed on, nonetheless.
"Well, I'd like to see it if I could. It looks lovely from the pictures." The merchant grinned.
"Well, no problem! I'll get in contact with the shuttle and have them take you out tomorrow. Gotta be early, can you be at Berth Eight at six?" Kyle mentally winced at the early time. Sophie purred gently.
I'll wake you, she assured. Kyle smiled and nodded.
XXX
It was raining in Zeraven when Kyle showed up. It wasn't a very heavy rain, mind you, but it was more than a drizzle. Kyle was dressed in his warmest jacket and wearing a brimmed hat, so the water wouldn't roll down into the neck of his jacket.
The man by the shuttle was drinking from a silvery flask when Kyle arrived. It was so misty, the street lamps had come on. The man almost looked startled, quickly capping his flask and putting it in a pocket.
"Hey, I'm Jack. I'll be takin' ya out to see tha island," said the man in a slightly odd accent. It was slightly, not quite slurred, but it wasn't like any accent Kyle had heard. Kyle smiled as best he could, trying to be friendly.
"I'm Kyle. Thanks for showing me around." Jack nodded, and Kyle noticed a slight twitch to his nod. It was very minor, but he did notice. Sophie did as well through their link. Kyle smiled softly as he felt Sophie's mind gently caress his.
Be careful, Kyle. If anything even remotely seems wrong, have him bring you back, said Sophie. Kyle gave a positive.
As much as Kyle had wanted to bring Sophie, the merchant, "Bud", had said there was only enough room for the pilot and one passenger. This made Sophie nervous and suspicious. By that token, she had Kyle bring a small stun-pen for protection. It was the only thing like a weapon in Reinhardt's stash, but it was better than nothing. Jack sighed as he looked up at the rain.
"Gotta keep it brief. Squall's comin' in later, and Eramore gets some nasty ones sometimes," said Jack as they boarded his tiny shuttle. Kyle nodded his understanding as he took a seat and fastened his seat belt. With a few coughs and a sniffle, Jack started up the shuttle and lifted off. As Jack was piloting, Kyle brought up a black PDA, the one that had belonged to Catherine, Reinhardt's android assistant. Kyle typed on it:
Hey, Sophie. How's the reception? Kyle asked.
Very good. I can see everything through the camera, Sophie replied through the PDA. Back on their ship, Sophie was watching through the camera in Kyle's headset, and speaking to him through the PDA via the text function. In lieu of her being with him physically, she was still able to see and assess the island with him. Kyle smiled as he replied.
Good. I'm glad you thought of this. I really want you to see the island, too.Kyle just barely felt a soft mental caress from Sophie as they got further from Zeraven. He looked at Jack as he piloted the ship. "Say, how far from Zeraven are we right now?" Kyle asked. Jack didn't look back as he replied.
"Only about four miles. Why?" Jack replied. Kyle smiled.
"Uh, just curious." Kyle made a mental note that four miles seemed to be the limit at which Kyle and Sophie could communicate mentally. Kyle watched the sea out the window as the small shuttle flew over the ocean. The waves were not very high or harsh. It didn't look like any big storm was brewing, but Kyle remembered how quickly the weather could change on Zerichs II. Kyle enjoyed the flight, watching the sea as it rained. He even saw a Norba surfacing. It had to be over two-hundred feet long. Sophie could see it as well through the video feed, just as amazed as he was.
"There she is," said Jack. Kyle looked up as a form began to emerge out of the mists and rain.
Eramore Island slowly melted out of the mists right before his eyes. Kyle stared as he saw it for the very first time.
"Wow," Kyle breathed. It was bigger than he thought. The sides were high cliffs, topped with lush greenery. There was a small sandbar of sorts at the very most southwesterly end of the island, and thus far, it was the only place he saw where a boat could safely land at sea level.
Amazing, said Sophie through the PDA. Kyle nodded as they flew by the southern cliffs. It was hard to judge just with his eyes, but the cliffs looked to be at least a hundred feet above the water, maybe more. The trees looked just as tall, they were huge. As the shuttle flew higher and turned towards the island interior, he could see just how wooded it really was. Apart from a few clearings that he could just barely make out through the mists, it was all forests as far as he could see. Kyle looked ahead, and could see a larger clearing they were heading for. He couldn't help feeling excited as they came closer, and he could see the house.
The house was brown, two stories tall, as it was said. As the shuttle came down, Kyle could see the shutters were closed, and what looked like the remnants of a much smaller building, overgrown with weeds and plants. A shed, perhaps. The shuttle landed with a soft rumble. Jack powered the craft down and opened the door. Kyle took a deep breath of the moist air as he stepped out.
The clearing was about three, maybe four acres. The grass was long, but smelled fresh and clean. Kyle couldn't help the wide grin that came to his face. The trees were even bigger than he had thought. They looked to be a good hundred feet tall. Jack sniffed from where he stood.
"Come on. Have a look inside," said Jack as he led Kyle to the door. Jack produced a key and unlocked the door, then removed a strip of material from around the door. He opened the door and they walked inside. Kyle blinked as he entered the dark room.
There was a musty smell, not bad, but it was there. Then again, since the house hadn't been occupied for some time, that wasn't surprising. There was a layer of dust on the floor. Jack clicked on a flashlight, and Kyle was surprised to see it was a hardwood floor. Kyle looked around. Since the shutters were closed, it was pretty dark.
"It's kind of dark. Do the lights work?" Kyle asked.
"Gotta start up the reactor," said Jack, walking through the house, Kyle following. Jack led Kyle into one of the halls, down the stairs into the basement, where the reactor of the house was. Jack grasped a large lever, and, with a grunt of effort, he shoved it upwards. There was a loud snap, followed by a mechanical whine as the reactor powered up, the cells beginning to glow orange. Jack sighed as he walked over and flipped a light switch. The light flickered on dimly. Kyle frowned.
"Lights are kind of dim, aren't they?" Kyle asked. Jack sighed softly as he looked at the reactor.
"The last folks lived here over a decade ago. The cells need to recharge," said Jack as he led Kyle back up into the living room. Kyle flipped a switch, and could see the room much better, even if the light was dim. The walls were white, but more than a little dusty, dingy. As he looked around, he began to almost see furniture and other elements of living. It needed lots of TLC at the moment. Kyle stopped when he saw a metal thing set into the wall. He stared before coming closer.
"Is that what I think it is?" Kyle asked. Jack coughed as he nodded.
"Peat stove. You can cook on it if you need. But you gotta replace the chimney filter. They fine you real good if you just let the smoke go out," said Jack. Kyle followed Jack to the kitchen. Kyle turned the faucet on. There was a deep, hollow rumble, then the faucet coughed and belched out the air that had been in the pipes for so long. The first flow of water was a little dirty, but it cleared quickly, becoming crystal clear. Kyle sipped a handful, and it tasted good. Kyle gave a soft laugh.
Next, Jack showed him the master bedroom.
Kyle was awed as he stepped into the comfortable-feeling room. There was a bathroom connected to it, which Jack showed him. Kyle had never seen such beautiful amber tiles before, but it made the whole bathroom look nice and cozy. The bathtub was sunk into the floor, rather than raised, and quite large. It would be perfect for him or Sophie to have a nice soak in warm water if they liked. Next, Jack led him upstairs to see the second floor. There was more room in the house than Kyle had ever dreamed of. Kyle was surprised when a small communicator on Jack's belt beeped. He checked it and grunted. "Squall's gettin' close, we gotta go," said Jack. Kyle nodded, feeling amazed and enthralled at the beautiful house and island. As they got back into the shuttle, Kyle brought up the PDA.
So? What do you think? Kyle smiled at the line of heart symbols that appeared on the screen.
Oh, Kyle it's wonderful! I wish I could be there with you to see it, but it looks amazing! And the forests are so thick! Kyle smiled at Sophie's approval. As the shuttle lifted off, Kyle looked towards the front where Jack was piloting.
"Say, what're the forests like?" Kyle asked.
"Ah, dark. And . . . woody. I don't like places like that," said Jack, sounding nervous. Any other time, Kyle would have taken notice of his nervous tone, but excited as he was, he didn't pay it any mind. Kyle smiled softly as they lifted up above the forests.
"Such a beautiful place," Kyle mused as they flew back towards Zemura island.
XXX
No sooner did the door of the Talon swish open, than Kyle was wrapped in a strong embrace and pulled inside.
Kyle it's wonderful! said Sophie as she thrummed. Kyle smiled warmly as he returned the embrace. Sophie saw Kyle's memories of the island and the house, and she was absolutely delighted. I can hardly wait to go there myself! The grass was so soft, and the trees were so big! Kyle smiled as Sophie cuddled him.
I'm glad you like it, Sophie. He looked up as the computer beeped, signaling they had a call. Sophie made sure she was out of sight as Kyle sat and answered. The face of Bud appeared on the screen.
"So, how'd you like the island?" Bud asked. Kyle tried his best to hide his excitement.
"It was pretty nice, but I wasn't able to really look at everything, just most of the house. I'm still a little on the fence." Sophie snickered at Kyle's performance. Bud looked a tiny bit worried, but hid it very well very quickly.
"Yeah, wasn't expecting that squall. Tell you what, since I like you, and you were a great sport about it, how about I cut you a deal? I already got the paperwork all made up. All it needs is your thumbprint, and it's all yours for ¢21,000." Kyle thought about it for a few moments, along with Sophie, before pressing his thumb on the reader.
"Done," Kyle replied.
XXX
Kyle and Sophie were beside themselves in happiness. They had a home! Not just a home, they had a whole island all to themselves! Sophie kept her arms around Kyle as they headed for the port to tell Granny Rose the wonderful news. The concierge had been kind enough to help with delivering the money to Bud, which was helpful, given how much gold was involved.
Kyle, thank you so much. We actually have our own home now! Kyle smiled as wide as he could, feeling his beloved mate's happiness as clear as day.
I never would have thought I'd ever buy a house of my very own, let alone my own island! Sophie purred as she gently stroked Kyle's face as they walked.
As they came to Granny Rose's shop, they were surprised to see it was closed. Kyle frowned. "Huh. That's funny," said Kyle as he approached.
There was a small sign on the door: On Holiday.
Kyle gave a soft smile at this. She deserves a break, with all the help she's given. Sophie agreed. They headed back into Zeraven. Kyle wanted to see about the other bakeries and maybe get something for them to have while they went to see their island firsthand. They were surprised when they saw the Sugar Shack was open again. Sophie gave a gentle purr.
I want to wait a little more before I meet Shiloh, Kyle. But it would be nice if you tell them the news. I'll be up enjoying the rain, said Sophie as she gave him a warm hug before climbing up the side of the building to stand on the rooftops. Kyle smiled as he entered the shop.
As the bell of the shop rang, there was a delighted squeal.
"Kyle! Estona eena!" Kyle smiled as Shiloh ran over and almost leaped at him. Kyle chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her, her arms around his neck, her feet off the floor.
"Hi, Shiloh," Kyle greeted. She cooed happily as she nuzzled him. Kyle hugged her tighter. It meant all the more, now that he knew what dear Tobias did, and what had happened. Kyle was filled with warmth as Shiloh embraced him. If they ever were in trouble again, I'd fight to protect them, Kyle thought. Sophie agreed.
So would I. They're a kind, wonderful people. Shiloh giggled as Kyle set her down.
"It's so nice to see you again, Kyle! We were away visiting family. How have you been?" Shiloh asked. Kyle smiled brightly.
"Wonderful! Shiloh, I wanted to tell somebody that we bought our own island." At this, Shiloh laughed, bouncing on her toes and clapping her hands as her tail waved.
"How wonderful! Now you have a home! I'm so happy for you!" Kyle smiled and nodded. Shiloh wiped her hands on her apron as her tail swished. "What would you like? We have some new treats in!" Kyle smiled at her warm, wonderful energy and personality, and couldn't fathom how somebody could be so mean and nasty to such sweet people. He still remembered Len's nasty words, and those of the other men.
Some people are so miserable and so angry, they hate anybody who is happy, like they wish they were, and they strike out, said Sophie.
"Shw mae, Kyle?" said Leon from where he was behind the counter, setting out fresh batches of cookies and other treats. Kyle smiled at Leon.
"Huh?" Leon smiled.
"Shw mae means 'how is it?'. Our way of saying hello," he replied Kyle smiled at that.
"Neat. It's going good," Kyle replied. Shiloh scampered over to Leon and hugged him.
"Kyle and his lady-friend bought their own island!" Shiloh announced. Leon smiled wider.
"Wonderful! I hope you'll still come by, though. We like seeing you," said Leon. Kyle smiled and nodded.
"Oh, you couldn't keep me away with land mines! You guys make the best amaretto cake I've ever tasted! Not to mention all the other treats," Kyle replied, earning a pleased squeal from Shiloh as she held her hands to her fluffy cheeks, her tail waving happily.
"Thank you, Kyle! We just baked some today. If you'd like, it's nice and fresh." Kyle smiled and nodded. Kyle bought three whole cakes from them, along with some wonderful molasses cookies. Shiloh hugged Kyle as he paid Leon. "Kyle eena su dana beenu! Please come by any time! We're always happy to see you!" said Shiloh as Leon packaged their order. Kyle returned the sweet, furry embrace.
"You're welcome, Shiloh. By the way, what does 'eena' mean?" Kyle asked. Shiloh hugged him tighter.
"You're eena! 'Eena' is friend!" she replied happily. Kyle smiled at that.
So, the Milurian children were calling you their friend, said Kyle, remembering their words. Sophie purred, giving warm thoughts through their link.
"So, what's this island like?" Leon asked. Shiloh's ears twitched as she looked at him.
"Most of it's forest, which is really something. Where I grew up, there weren't any trees, or even plants, so I'm really excited to have my own forest," said Kyle, picking up the packages. Shiloh giggled, clapping her hands happily.
"How wonderful! Many people of mine live in forests! Bilal village is in the forests! I'll take you and show you sometime! You would love it, and the people would love you!" said Shiloh with her wonderful exuberance and warmth. Leon smiled at his wife's words.
"Yes, Bilal is a beautiful village in the Chwerthin Woods, further in on the island," said Leon as he snaked an arm around Shiloh's waist and pulled her against him. "Met the Missus there," said Leon with a wink, to which Shiloh giggled. Kyle smiled at their warmth.
"Sounds lovely. Sometime, I'll take you up on it," replied Kyle as he turned to leave.
"Do tell us more about your island when you come back!" Shiloh called out. Kyle grinned as he stood in the doorway, looking over his shoulder.
"I will! Maybe sometime I can have you visit our little slice of paradise!" With that, he left.
Sophie was happy as could be as they walked back to their ship, excited that they were finally going to their new home.
I can hardly wait! I want to feel the grass and climb the trees! said Sophie as they approached the docks.
Same here, Sophie. It's my first house. Sophie hugged him as they got home as the clouds began to give a light drizzle. Once things were put away, Kyle sat in the pilot's chair and set the coordinates into the computer to guide him. He started the ship and checked in with the traffic controllers before lifting off. They watched as Zeraven sunk beneath them as they rose over the city. Kyle pulled the ship around and watched the readouts. When they were pointed in the right direction, the heads-up display of the ship turned green. Kyle looked at Sophie and smiled. Let's go home, said Kyle as they accelerated off towards Eramore.
XXX
As evening settled and Leon closed the shop, Shiloh sat, concerned. Something was nibbling at her. Something seemed off, for some reason. She couldn't put her paw on it, but something seemed wrong. She gave a soft whine as her tail swished, her ears laid back. Her chest felt tight, as did her throat. She knew it had something to do with Kyle. She knew she should be happy for him, having his own island for him and his lady-friend.
So, why was she so tense?
While Leon put things away, Shiloh went into one of the back rooms, sitting in a chair and bringing up the local mainframe. She frowned softly as she typed, looking into recent island purchases. In particular, islands that had forests. Shiloh knew Kyle wouldn't do anything like steal or something of that nature, but her worry persisted. Kyle was so sweet and he was new, it might be someone was trying to cheat him. Even such a world as Zerichs II had its bad apples. Cheating locals was not just heavily frowned on, it was outright illegal, carrying a very heavy fine, but that didn't stop some from trying to cheat new immigrants. Shiloh's tail flicked as she waited for the results to come up. Her ears twitched as the page loaded, displaying all islands that had been listed as sold recently. Only four islands matched her criteria.
As she looked, something caught her eye. Her eyes widened and her ears drooped as she stared at the screen:
Eramore "Eerie" Island: Sold.
Shiloh gave a yelp as she bolted from the room.
"Leon! Leon!" she screamed as she realized with horror what was wrong.
Author's note: I want to acknowledge a friend of my Grandma, who was the real-life model for Hans. It was from him I learned that despite Nazism being defeated, the attitude still exists. His shop, including the scroll, are all based on a real person.
Also, in the context of this story, the Cent Sign (¢) is used to represent the Zerichs Collin.
This is a gift to my wonderful readers. As they say on Zerichs II: Happy Nadolis!