Mana Pool Snippets - The Job

Part 2

"Um...no. I was told that you are collecting stories for me to retrieve."

Jaruka rubbed his neck. "See these eye rings? I keep drinking to pull myself out of this nightmare." He took the second chair at the desk and sat, slumping, elbow on table and hand on face. "So, dunderhead Denverbay put you up to this?" He asked.

"He hired me," I said approaching the table.

"Sorry. But will this get me off this rock, like tomorrow?"

I shook my head slowly. "I'm not entirely sure it will."

Jaruka grunted.

I sat down across from him. "Mr. Teal, I came here to interview you of what happened, and hoping you can tell why..."

"Look, before we start, get this straight," he interrupted me. "I know reporters. They want to know about Viro, I get it. I know nothing since I 'arrived' here. You start asking, I'll start walking. Please, don't."

So much for that, although I knew already that it would have been a waste of my time.

"I understand. The politics on Viro are becoming heated recently."

"Like nonexistent. Keep it that way, reporter."

I crossed my arms. "I do have a name. Xi'Tra Zader Khu II."

Jaruka slowly looked up, becoming sober in a second. "Xi'Tra?" He said. "The Legend?"

I nodded, smiling, proud that someone in the galaxy remembered my father.

Jaruka formed a short smirk. "Small galaxy. Explains the familiar suit. Hope you have the balls to stay here. By the way, stay the crog away from these human fast food joints. Chemicals all over before entering those buildings."

"I'll keep that in mind," I said. I wonder if high-end dining is a thing on Terra Firma, like a bug stand.

"Question is where to start," he said.

"I was thinking day one as starters. I like to go chronologically on current events."

That's when I noticed his hands balling in fists.

"Alright, fair enough. I'll play Denverbay's sadistic game."

"I'm not..."

Jaruka raised his hand. "Don't ask. I'll tell you exactly what happened. Be sure to run when I start throwing stuff."

I've dealt with more problematic people than Jaruka, but considering his level of anger, he seemed to cooperate. I think he wanted to share his story, others I don't think he could have been forced to do so.

"Shall we start?" I asked. Jaruka nodded, but I didn't expect that he would put on memory-recording device's halo around his head.

"Um..."

"I know how this goes. Done over twenty of these routine memory recordings," he said.

"Oh, okay. That's fine." I did care, but I managed to speak indifferently as I calibrated the borrowed tech.

I opened a paper notebook and said, "So before the Wave, did you visit this solar system be..."

"Ever heard of Benali Zanos?" He interrupted me again.

"Who?"

"Gnogal supernatural scientist? Short bastard like that night stand? Ring any bells in journalism?"

The square machine dinged and stored an image. I'm an investigative reporter and he expected me to know this stuff, but I didn't, and I felt like I was pushing me like Ketho did. Typical Halcunac, always getting out the point and moving on. It's a no brainer they hate today's media.