Mana Pool Snippets - The Days After

Four

"Reapers. Bad motherfuckers," Keeji answered.

Katie shrugged in agreement.

Deryl leaned back and said, "Right. Later. God this headache is killing me."

Scott had known Deryl since he was a toddler. He was a true, close friend and godfather of Scott's late parents. Deryl was a Marine that had served on Navy cruisers for deployment, then retired and became a U.S. Marshal. He had a family, and Scott could tell that the terran concepts were frightening to Deryl, he dreaded to think of the transformation happening to his daughters.

"I got something," Scott said. "Go home. Grace and the kids must be worried about you. Katie and I will talk to Jaruka."

Deryl smirked. "I'll do that. But...you sure? I've seen the weapons this guy packs."

Scott pointed at the dropship. "We know how to talk to him...I think."

"Okay," Deryl said nodding, "but still, a non-threat unless provoked. Never imagine dealing with this is my lifetime."

"Those conditions," Katie said. "How is the government handling this?"

"Embedding those rules in their brains I guess," Deryl said. "Speaking of government. Word is getting out."

Keeji cocked his head to the right.

Arana said, "In what way, sir? I'm aware that most of the House, Senate, and White House members were zombies and killed. Have they announced a plan to bounce back?"

"No." Deryl paused to scratch his hair. "After the address ten minutes from now, the President will announce his resignation as of today. His oldest daughter got a tattoo." He raked his hair back. "And to think, I voted for that guy."

*****

The documents were scattered on the bench. A United States passport with a missing photo and misspelled name. Jason Teal. Really? Official citizenship documents with the correct name, but race was listed as "Pacific Islander." A California green card, also with missing photo. An over-the-counter book of the United States Constitution, not translated to Halcunac. A stack of business cards for Deryl, Mathews, the Walsh family and company, Scott, and a few government officials for questions and inquiries. If only they would have left him a cellphone.

And a hundred dollar bill.

Jaruka expected more; a shuttle ticket off the planet, or a text translator. A bottle of Kimana Gin sounded better, that stuff made worries flush away for an hour.

Jaruka was not sure if to keep the documents or burn them at night, his only worry was that destroying the documents would aggravate Brill and Denverbay.

The dropship's hatch door was knocked on. Jaruka closed his eyes. "If it's Mathews, I am not answering it," he whispered.

The knocking persisted, followed by Scott's voice. "Hey, Jaruka. We want to come in." Jaruka wanted to be alone, but even so, he answered, he trusted them.

Jaruka stood, grabbed the bottle of Nova Company brew he had uncorked, and opened the hatch as he took a sip. "Can't you see I'm busy?"

Scott, Katie, Keeji, and Arana looked up. "I don't think so," Katie said.

Jaruka leaned out. "Is Deryl with you?"

"I gave him a break," Scott said. "Can we talk?"

"About what?"

"The papers. Those spires Victor mentioned. What to do. What not to do. You know? Stuff. Important stuff." Scott made emphasis on those remaining words.