Mana Pool Snippets - Keystone

Part 3

Both Jaruka and Arana counted the people and possible weapons for almost fifteen minutes. Jaruka was grateful he brought his pistol along for those ‘just in case’ moments. He preferred his rifle and katana, but the pistol sufficed.

Keeji whined and his ears flicked. “Something’s wrong,” he said.

Jaruka pulled the pistol’s hammer and looked around

A couple screams and a door slamming came from the Livingston house.

Scott and Katie walked off the patio with Andrea in Katie’s arms. Keeji came out of the car glad to see Scott, but somehow he heard something and said to the humans on the patio, “And I hope you two get run over by Spanish bulls!”

Jaruka got the joke, but he pictured bulls quite similarly to blandads.

Nonetheless, nothing about it was good. Andrea was crying. They opened the doors and Jaruka said, “Guessing those two didn’t listen?” Jaruka flipped the safety on the pistol and put it back in his pants pocket.

“Not one flipping second,” Scott said slamming the driver side door. “God I can’t believe those two, after all we discussed.”

Katie got in after Andrea got in first, then the child latched onto Katie, crying on her shoulder. Arana reentered Katie. The child’s cry felt like needles to Jaruka’s mind. Katie tried to calm her down, but nothing could be done.

Once Keeji reentered Scott, Scott started the Jeep and drove off before more neighbors came with familiar objects in hand.

“Yep, definitely like those worker homes,” Jaruka said. “Mind telling me what the crog happened in there?”

“Not right now,” Katie said. Andrea kept on crying, face buried in Katie’s hoodie.

“Fine, leave me out, see if I care,” Jaruka said and kept looking out. But looking at Andrea, it reminded something inside him; a personal feeling. It unsettled him so much he covered his ears until Andrea fell asleep.

Dammit. I did not know this would go this far. I got to get back to the ship. Try to glassblow with the equipment he salvaged from the Lunar Spear; that always calms his nerves. It helped on Asteroid Helen with cabin fever, why not cage those ancient feelings again?

They got back to the winery, noticing the company van back in the parking lot, right next to Jaruka’s Howler Cycle. Crog me. He thought they would be out for a while. Great, more human interaction, unless he moves quick before they talk to him.

As the terrans and humans were outside, Jaruka quickly made his way behind the house, through the backyard door, grab the briefcase and TV attachment, and out and back to his vehicle when the group went inside.

The memories kicked in and had to punch the vehicle’s seat. “Dammit, it’s setting in.”

Scott came out and walked up to Jaruka’s vehicle. “Relax. I told Jonathan and Brenda you were here a few seconds before we asked you to come. Nothing about the TV or the snacks on the table you cleaned up.”

“Good,” Jaruka said putting the briefcase in the cargo compartment under the seat.

“And Andrea is calmed down a bit. She’s crying in Katie’s room now.”

“That’s good.” Jaruka closed the seat.

“Can you at least look up to be interested?”

Jaruka grumbled. “I am interested. Interested to not get involved.” Scott’s eyebrow skewed. “It’s personal stuff.”