Twinks in Space: Fantastic Voyage - Part Two - 40. Chapter 40 - The Eighth Location

The hinges of the door that led into the safe house creaked as Captain Suoki shoved his way into the old building. He looked around. “You’re not what you used to be,” he said to the room. Dust coated every surface, and cobwebs hung like the remnants of decorations from some long-forgotten holiday. “Let’s see if there’s any preserved food in this place,” the captain said to himself, “or am I going to need to head into town? The afternoon is getting late.”

He groaned when he opened the pantry. It was almost empty. Captain Suoki took out everything that was available and arranged it on the dusty table. He looked over his options. There was a single sealed tin of spicy astro-serpent, an unopened jar of mustard, three cans of broth, one tube of garlic paste, a bottle of oil, two packs of dehydrated mushrooms, a sack of nuts, and a bottle of wine. Captain Suoki opened the wine and let it breathe. He took out a glass from the cupboard and brought it over to the sink.

“Please work,” he said as he turned the tap. To his delight, water sputtered and then flowed from the faucet. He cleaned and dried the glass, and he poured himself a little of the wine. Captain Suoki took a sip and looked over the meager options. “Town it is,” he declared to the food.

The safe house he and Lyoth referred to as the eighth location was positioned at the edge of a rundown old mining community on a planet in the outer rim. Captain Suoki knew it would only take him about fifteen minutes to walk to one of the few grocery suppliers, but he reconsidered the food in front of him again like elements in an equation, combining and recombining the ingredients in his mind until he was satisfied that he would not be satisfied eating what was available.

“Fine,” he grumbled to himself as he finished his small glass of wine.

He grabbed a large bag out of the closet, but he paused and looked down at it. The fabric was printed with the image of a cartoon fox with blue fur who was smiling up at him. The big man gasped.

“Oh my gods, I completely forgot about the Lapis Lupine!”

Even though he knew it was located on the far side of town and would take him much longer to get there than one of the nearer grocery stores, Captain Suoki headed in the direction of the Lapis Lupine. He walked under the planet’s setting sun, and the he brought his fingertips to the town’s welcome sign as he passed it. The faded letters of the words The Village of Glinterdale brought back memories of deeds done in his younger days. Captain Suoki smiled.

As he made his way through the tired old town, his heart gave a little leap in his chest at his first sight of the inhabitants. The majority of the people who now lived in Glinterdale were the remnants of a race called the Voscija. Lyoth and Captain Suoki had helped save them from annihilation a decade earlier, and the survivors hid out and made a home for themselves on this distant planet. There were people from a few other humanoid species living in Glinterdale who also did not wish to be found, and the secret town was perfect.

The Voscijas were unique among sentient species. Thick hair covers their bodies and grows in an array of vibrant colors. Their snouts protrude forward, and their ears point up, giving their faces an appearance similar to wolves. Voscijas are born with tails, but during the genocide, many of them were imprisoned and subjected to having their tails cut off before execution. Captain Suoki spied a few tailless adults down one of the main streets, and he felt a little surge of joy at seeing them.

He continued through Glinterdale and eventually, the blue lights of the Lapis Lupine were ahead of him, shining in defiance of the oncoming night. He approached the entrance of the bar and was surprised when a group of Voscijas children exited and began to make their way down one of the town’s darkening streets. Each of the youths possessed tails, and Captain Suoki suspected they had all been born in Glinterdale. He pulled open the door to the Lapis Lupine and was surprised again. The interior was not what he remembered.

The Lapis Lupine used to be a bar with a small specialty food shop attached. Captain Suoki and Lyoth had spent almost a month with the Voscija people in Glinterdale helping them get settled, and in that time, they befriended the Voscija man who opened the Lapis Lupine. He was a charming green-furred fellow named Hinta.

Captain Suoki was standing just inside the door of the Lapis Lupine, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. The bar was still along one wall, but the interior was now filled with gaming machines and three-dimensional displays where people participated in tabletop simulations. The food area had been expanded at some point and now offered much more variety than Captain Suoki remembered. There were quite a few adult Voscijas in the Lapis Lupine, but the bar atmosphere had clearly been altered to accommodate the growing population of young Voscijas. There were many children laughing and playing. Captain Suoki brought a hand to his mouth as a little sob of happiness threatened to choke him.

“It can’t be!” a voice called out to one side. “Suoki!”

The big man turned at the sound of his name, and green-furred Hinta was smiling at him.

“It is you! Get over here!” Hinta insisted. He stepped out from behind the counter, wrapped Captain Suoki in a tight embrace, and asked, “What is this beard? When did you grow it?”

The captain chuckled. “Hinta, it’s great to see you again after all these years!” He looked around at the youths. “And can I say how happy I am to see so many of your people and that your population is growing.”

“We’ve had a good few years,” Hinta replied with a smile. He waved at one of the empty barstools. “Have a seat, old friend. What can I getcha, and what brings you to our hidden little backwater? Is Lyoth with you?” Hinta added, looking past Captain Suoki toward the door.

“Not yet,” the captain answered, “but I think he’s on his way, or he will be soon. I’m meeting him here in town.”

Hinta looked curious. “A secret mission?”

Captain Suoki laughed again. “Honestly, I’m not sure. So much is happening. A group has formed that is trying to take over the entire universe. Billions have been killed on multiple planets. It’s terrible. Also, the ship Lyoth and I have lived on for the past few years was sucked through a weird wormhole, and it’s been lost in uncharted space.” He shrugged at Hinta. “I have no idea what Lyoth has planned.” He looked around the Lapis Lupine again. “There are so many young Voscijas!”

Hinta cackled. “I love it! The youths have made the Lapis Lupine their home. This place has become the heart of Voscija life.”

“Incredible,” Captain Suoki replied, “I had no idea your people were thriving to such a degree. I’m so thrilled to see it!”

“Our life in Glinterdale is quiet and good. I’m in a relationship with another Voscija man named Olunt. Now, what’ll it be?” Hinta asked with a toothy smile. He waved at the list of beverage options on the wall behind him.

Captain Suoki saw a drink listed that he had not enjoyed since helping the Voscijas relocate to Glinterdale. “Crystalgin, wow, I haven’t even thought about crystalgin in forever. Give it to me on the rocks, please, with a splash of bitter citrus and an icecherry.”

“You’ve got it!” Hinta replied. “And Suoki, you’re in for a treat. We have a singer performing tonight who’s not to be missed. She takes the stage in a little over two hours. Wanna stick around? I’ll make you a fresh loaf of rogilt,” he tempted.

Captain Suoki’s eyebrows shot up. “Rogilt?! How have I forgotten all of your people’s food? Voscija really are one of the most creative species with regard to cooking. Obviously I’ll stay!” he concluded with a laugh.

Hinta placed the crystalgin in front of Captain Suoki and said, “Let me go get the rogilt started for you. As you know, they take a bit.”

The green-furred man headed into the back as Captain Suoki enjoyed his first sip. The flavors were icy but burned at the same time. The crystalgin felt like static in his throat and prickly as he swallowed. He liked it.

After a little while, Hinta returned and Captain Suoki ordered another glass of crystalgin.

“So who’s performing tonight?”

Hinta smiled. “Her name’s Rystiel. She was a kid when you found my people our home in Glinterdale. She’s known a good life for the past decade, but she’s shy. She’s got a serious set of pipes on her, though; if Rystiel can just break out of her shell, she’ll be a top-notch performer! She’s such a nice kid.”

“I’m looking forward to hearing her sing.”

Hinta placed the second glass of crystalgin beside the one that was almost empty, and he went to check in on his other guests.

The tingle Captain Suoki was feeling from the beverage reminded him of days he had forgotten, and the memories made him smile.

A few minutes later, Hinta returned with Captain Suoki’s food. It looked very plain on the outside, nothing more than a simple small loaf of bread, but the big bearded man started to salivate with anticipation.

“Here you go.” The green-furred fellow set the plate of food onto the bar in front of Captain Suoki. Hinta placed a napkin, a fork, and an oversized knife onto the counter beside the plate.

Captain Suoki grinned as he stuck the fork into the top of the loaf, and he sliced the rogilt right down the middle. He used the knife and fork to shift the two sides away from each other, and he revealed the rich stuffing hidden within the dough. Molten cheddar and ground cave boar meat poured onto the plate from the two pieces of bread like a pair of delicious waterfalls. Tiny chunks of celeriac and comet tubers were mixed in with the meat and gooey cheese.

“Magical!” Captain Suoki proclaimed. He dug in and it was more delicious than he remembered.

Partway through his meal, the captain felt a tug at his sleeve. He turned in its direction, and the wolfish face of a pink-furred Voscija youth was looking up at him. Captain Suoki knew the color of a Voscija’s fur had nothing to do with their gender.

“Hello, little one,” he said out of the corner of his mouth. He finished chewing his bite and swallowed, but the child did not respond. “What can I do for you, my young friend?” The pink Voscija still did not speak, and the captain decided to introduce himself. “My name’s Suoki. What’s yours?” He stuck his big hand in the child’s direction.

Voscijas do not have paws with claws and pads like wolves, but instead hands with fingers, and the child took Captain Suoki’s hand. The fur that grows on every part of their bodies also includes their hands and even their fingers, and the softness of the youth’s pink fur warmed Captain Suoki.

The child replied with a squeaky voice. “Me and the other boys wanted to know who you are. I’m Tahli.”

“It is such a pleasure to meet you, Tahli, and what other boys?”

Tahli pointed across the Lapis Lupine’s interior at a table with three more Voscija youths. One of their fur was yellow, one was orange, and the third was a darker shade of pink. They were staring at Captain Suoki.

“What are you lads up to this evening?” he asked.

“We’re here to watch Rystiel sing. She’s our cousin.” Tahli nodded at the table of boys again.

Captain Suoki squinted over at their table and saw a game. “What are you playing?”

“Oh, that’s Catch the Deathling Stars! It’s a super fun card game; have you never played it?”

Captain Suoki was full of wonder. “I’ve never even heard of it, but I love playing cards!”

“We could teach you if you want.”

“I’d be honored.” Captain Suoki looked through the tavern. “Tahli, do mostly Voscijas come in here? Is it weird to see someone like me?” He took another bite of his food.

“No, it’s not all that weird,” Tahli replied. He glanced around. Captain Suoki was the only non-Voscija in the Lapis Lupine. “I mean, yeah, mostly it’s just us. Why’re you here?” Instead of heading back over to rejoin the other Voscija boys, Tahli clambered up onto the bar seat next to Captain Suoki.

The big man grinned through his beard and asked a question of his own. “How old are you?”

“I’m almost ten years old.”

Captain Suoki sighed. “So you were born in Glinterdale, which is why you have a tail.”

Tahli looked over his own shoulder at his furry pink tail as it swished behind him. “Yeah, but a lotta the grown-ups don’t have theirs.”

“I know,” Captain Suoki replied quietly. “Ten years ago, I was one of the outsiders who helped your people get away and hide out here. It’s been a long time since I’ve been back.”

Tahli turned in his seat toward the other Voscija boys. “Our mom told us about our homeworld and how it was destroyed.”

“You four are brothers?”

“We all have the same mom, but we’re from two separate litters.”

The captain knew Voscijas did not have family units in the way that many other species do, and instead, all the adults raise the young together in community. Children know their mothers and siblings, but infants are nursed by multiple different Voscija women, and the bonds they form are to the group rather than to individuals. Captain Suoki also knew that the concept of fatherhood was nonexistent for Voscijas. He looked over at the green-furred barkeep. Even if Hinta had not been with another man and indeed had fathered a litter, the captain knew Hinta would not have known which children were his, and yet, Hinta had become like a doting father to all the Voscija youths.

Captain Suoki chuckled to himself and took another bite of his food. It was almost gone. “You’ll have to introduce me to your siblings when I finish eating.”

Tahli looked up at the captain with concentration on his little wolfish face and asked, “You helped save us Voscijas?”

Captain Suoki nodded.

“Were you friends with us?”

The captain shook his head. “I’d never met your people before. At the time, I was in charge of a small private military security battalion. I received a call from a fellow soldier who had risen through the ranks with me in my younger days. He had joined the Guild of Houses, and they’re the ones who stepped in to prevent your people’s genocide. He asked for my men and our help, and we got the survivors here.”

Tahli was trying to process information that was quite a bit over his head. “Most of the grown-ups don’t have tails,” he reiterated.

Captain Suoki gave the child a sad smile. “I know. It was very cruel how so many Voscijas were hurt before being killed. I’m just glad we were able to get a bunch of them out of there alive, even if they had already lost their tails.” The captain took his last bite of food.

“Our mom doesn’t have a tail.”

Captain Suoki nodded again. “I’m very sorry she was hurt, but she has four strapping young lads, and that is pretty fabulous!” He looked back at the other three boys. “Tahli, do you have more siblings?

“Yes, we also have six sisters and one dual-life. They’re all outside on the patio.”

Captain Suoki looked around but did not see an exit to a patio. “Please remind me what dual-life means. I think I used to know, but I just don’t remember.”

The pink-furred youth smiled. “Yeah, right, it’s our third type of Voscija. Our people are all boys, or girls, or dual-lifes.”

“Oh yes,” Captain Suoki replied, “your people’s other gender! That’s right, thank you for reminding me, Tahli, and I hope I get to meet all of your siblings this evening.” The big man focused on the wolfy boy. “But Tahli, would you like to introduce me to your brothers now, and are you ready to teach me this card game?”