Chapter 6
Josiah's eyes glazed over a poster on the wall, advertising a motorcycle rally near Brisbane on the corkboard of Glasshouse Primary. He could barely reach up but he grabbed the poster and tore it from its pin as he looked at it, squinting. Brandy back home was rather eager for him to actually go outside, though he didn't know the local children around his neighborhood too well.
"Hey," A voice said to him, as Josiah spun around to see a red kelpie behind him, smiling and tail wagging. "I didn't know you were interested in motorcycles, Josiah!"
"Oh, it's been a while since I last rode one," Josiah rubbed the back of his head, smiling. "Back in Louisiana, in uh, America, I mean!"
Rusty raises an eyebrow, as he nods. "Well, I'm entering and I got a spare if you don't mind having it fixed up."
"Really?" Josiah asked. "Just, I don't know if my mom would let me."
"Well, you do need a helmet to ride, and I don't have a spare, but I know a place where you could get one!" Rusty held up a finger, tail wagging. "Once that's done, I think your mum'll be fine with it!"
"You sure?" Josiah asked, holding out his finger. It felt a little too good to be true but Rusty smiled.
"Well, I don't use it anymore and my mum would be fine with giving it away." Rusty said, his tail wagging behind him.
Josiah thought to himself, putting his hand on his chin before he would nod. 'Mom's getting her wish after all, just maybe not in the way she wants it.'
When Josiah was on the way home, he took a breath and before he could speak, Brandy looked back from her seat.
"Do you have something on your mind, Josiah?" She asked, her eyes going back to the road. It was a little bumpy, going on one of those out-of-the-way dirt roads surrounded by greenery as a shortcut back home. Josiah was thankful they had four-wheel drive, granted, it wasn't the most comfortable ride.
Josiah reached into his bag and showed Brandy the poster as she glanced at it for a moment.
"Hmm, that's interesting," Brandy smiled. "Looks very fun, too!"
"Rusty offered me one of his older bikes to borrow if I wanted to join." Josiah felt a little queasy as his ears folded back, feeling nervous.
Brandy winced her eyes and breathed through her teeth as she drove on. Her eyes were still focused on the road ahead but Josiah could read her reaction, looking into the rearview mirror as he felt a bit nervous.
"Josiah dear," Brandy asked. "It's good you want to go outside for once, but isn't this a little dangerous?"
"Isn't it a little dangerous we're talking on an out-of-the-way dirt road?" Josiah asked, looking outside the window, as he saw kangaroos hopping alongside the car, birds flying out of the trees. Josiah back in his home world did read how people had bull bars on their cars out in the boonies in Australia for kangaroos, since they were as deer were to his home of Louisiana.
Brandy's eyes narrowed, as she said, "Well, we're in a car and you're in a seat. That's different, dear."
"When I got on a plane, I was scared," Josiah said, holding up a finger. "My mom before she died, told me to ask the attendant at the desk before we got on and he said you're in danger driving to the airport than you are when you're on the plane," He felt a little uneasy at her glance, but he needed to soldier on. "We're taking a risk going through here, mom."
Brandy remained silent for a moment as she sighed. "I'll get you a helmet at least, that's for sure." She shook her head.
"I'll wash dishes tonight, too." Josiah offered a smile.
Brandy said, smiling back. "Always the responsible one, Josiah."
'Yeah, me, the responsible one.' He thought to himself, inwardly snorting.
"Just so you know, our neighbors are coming over for dinner," Brandy said, a smirk crossing her face. "Are you sure you want to wash the dishes for us?"
Josiah went a little white as he froze for a moment, not unlike a deer in headlights.
'I'm my own worst enemy, sometimes.' Josiah thought to himself, before nodding. 'But a promise is a promise, after all.'
Soon, they hit pavement and drove away from Glasshouse Primary, they went home as soon the skyline of Brisbane crept over the horizon, and it wasn't too long before they went to their condo, Josiah and Brandy went up to their unit as they entered.
"Out of curiosity, Josiah, do you like yaki... yak...?" Brandy asked.
"Yakisoba?" Josiah asked, tilting his head.
"Yeah!" Brandy held out her finger. "Yakisoba. The neighbors showed me a video about it!"
"I do." Josiah nodded.
"Excellent!" Brandy clapped. "We'll have a fantastic meal!" She took a bottle of oil and sprayed it into the wok, as it sizzled, she hummed as there was a knock at the door.
"Josiah dear," Brandy asked, taking a few plastic containers from the fridge. "Could you get the door?"
Josiah went to the door and opened it and before him, as he looked upwards, were two other dogs. One was a St. Bernard, tall and stocky, wearing a pouch. The other, light brown and beige, a mixed breed, thinner than his companion. The pair both wore smiles.
"Hey kid," The St. Bernard said, waving to him. "I can smell your mum's cooking. Is she making that yakisoba recipe Colt gave her?"
"Yes?" Josiah raised an eyebrow.
"Excellent," The St. Bernard's companion said as he entered, his smile growing wider. "I hope she picked up some good pork belly for it."
"Hey Duke, Colt," Brandy said, stir-frying some onions, bean sprouts, and carrots along with minced ginger and garlic, Josiah closed the door before any more of the neighbors decided they wanted some. "I hope you're hungry because it's gonna be a lot."
"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't." Duke said, putting his hand on his chin as he chuckled.
Josiah went into the kitchen, and Brandy took out the vegetables and replaced them with the noodles as she worked to loosen them with a pair of chopsticks, Colt looking at the noodles.
"Be careful, don't be too forceful or you'll break the noodles." Colt pointed to the noodles, Brandy glancing at him for a brief moment before going back to her cooking.
"So, how was work today?" Brandy asked, looking up at Duke.
"Busy, busy, busy as usual." Duke shook his head, sighing.
"I bet, I heard you went to the rig for a bit before coming back," Brandy said, adding a bit more oil to the wok. "Thankfully, it's not too far from shore or you won't be here."
"Did you hear about the UFO?" Colt asked, looking at Duke and Brandy, leaning on the bar.
Josiah, along with the other two adults in the room, gave Colt a look. Duke shook his head, frowning. Brandy glanced at Duke, wincing. Josiah himself widened his eyes.
Did they finally send someone to actually save him? It wouldn't be long until he returned back home.
Assuming whoever was there didn't get caught.
His thoughts were interrupted when Brandy with a spatula, put thin slices of pork belly onto the sizzling pan, before seasoning them with salt and black pepper. Then his stomach growled, and as if in response, so did Duke's.
"Well, I'm doing a good enough job," Brandy said, looking at Colt, smirking. "I got half of this room wanting some."
Colt narrowed his eyes and shook his head, sighing. "I admit defeat."
Soon, Brandy would present a glorious medley of noodles, vegetables, and pork belly steaming as Brandy set up the table and everyone sat down.
"So, uh," Duke said, picking up his fork, and spooling his noodles. "How was school today, kid?"
"Well," Josiah looked away, feeling a bit nervous. "I found a poster about a motorcycle race." He looked to a pair of chopsticks, his yakisoba in a bowl as he held it close.
"You're interested in motorcycles then?" Duke asked, smiling.
"Yeah, my uncle had motorcycles back in America." Josiah said, nodding, slurping up the noodles.
"Josiah, that's rude!" Brandy said, shaking her head.
"Not in Japan it isn't," Colt smiled. "Maybe his parents were some serious weeb-"
"Honey." Duke shook his head.
"What's a weeb?" Brandy asked. "It's not a cuss word is it?"
"No!" Colt said, smiling and shrinking in his seat.
Josiah shook his head, taking in his noodles. "I'm sorry, mom. It's a habit."
"Anyways," Duke looked to Josiah, his smile returning. "Are you going to watch or go join it?"
"I'm joining," Josiah said, putting down his bowl. "A friend from school is lending his bike."
"Good," Duke looked around the condo. "Not much space you can put here for a dirtbike, anyway."
"You know," Brandy sighed. "I'm not sure about this race, what if you get hurt, Josiah?" She held out her hand, palm open. "I know you offered to do the dishes tonight, but you don't have to do it if you're-"
"Brandy," Duke looked to the heeler. "Risk's just a part of life, and well, this could be a good experience for Josiah, especially if he wants to do a chore for you to participate. "Look," He held out his hands. "The three adults in the room, including myself, used to be a kid, and well, don't you remember being told no about something you wanted to and you wonder what could be if you did?"
Brandy paused for a moment before sighing. "I'm honestly not on board with it, but Josiah, if you really want to do this, you have to promise me something."
Josiah nodded, looking at Brandy.
"Can you promise me not to do anything too reckless? I'll get you the things you need just, I don't want you to get hurt or worse." Brandy said, looking down.
"I promise, Mom." Josiah said, smiling.
"Thank you, Josiah," Brandy wagged her tail as she smiled. "After you wash dishes, I'll get you some ice cream too for dessert!"
Josiah smiled, his own tail swaying behind him. He had something to look forward to after washing the dishes at least!
And soon, he will be rescued. He just had to soldier on, the end was in sight.
"Eva, I'm hoofing it!"
The Director watched from his desk, as the final footage from Eva showed Spencer, who was a Weimaraner now, running away from the craft, being chased by a golden retriever. He was about to reach for one of his favorite cigars before he saw the golden retriever trip, the camera zooming in to see him.
The microphone on the pod was very sensitive, as he heard the golden retriever say something.
"Ah, I did me hammy again!" He said.
The Director snorted, as inwardly, he did like the gumption Spencer had. He wasn't in trouble yet and well, he always had a Plan B in case something like this happened.
It was risky but he would have to do it, considering the footage of the drones showing that indeed, the common folk of the dog world were aware of something was going on.
It was a little exciting to the Director, he used to love Star Trek in his younger days, after all.
'Contain your enthusiasm,' The Director thought to himself. 'First, you need to ensure the safety of your operatives, even if one of them frustrates you to high hell.'
He then would begin to record a video for his most trusted associates within the facility as he clicked record.
The Director reclined in his seat as he would steeple his fingers, looking at the camera.
"I'm sure you're aware of the circumstances surrounding Technician Jovanni and Agent Christensen," The Director spoke as he smiled. "And while our dear Agent is hard at work finding our lost technician," He held up a finger. "However, in case things go awry, we will have to review Protocol 58, which for us, is an honor anyone would want for indeed,"
He turned to his window, looking out to the desert outside, shrubbery dotting the landscape.
"It is not every day you encounter a new civilization, let alone one like our own and I'm sure some of you would want to be twenty-one again."
He turned to the camera again. "For it is soon, it is time that we will make first contact."