by Paul Vayro
Chapter Nine
Zarg had returned to his family’s living quarters and gone straight to his room. He’d been forced to leave the fairground canteen after large sections had been closed to deal with the brawl Don had started. Zarg brooded over the Dovwar pie he hadn’t been able to fully enjoy.
Sat on his bed, staring out of the window, Zarg’s frustration shifted to the scene of family bliss that had greeted him as he stomped through the living quarters. His mother had been cleaning to her favourite album. She’d paused from singing along to ask if he’d had a nice time. ‘How could she be so insensitive to his moods? He clearly hadn’t had a good time. His sullen nature should have made it obvious. Why did they continue to make it so hard to rebel against them'?
The sound of plates striking the dinner table interrupted his annoyance; it signalled the late meal of the day was ready. Zarg took a self pitying breath of air into his scorned lungs. He didn’t see why he couldn’t just eat in his room.
“ZARG.” His mother sent the first notice that he had to come out and eat. Zarg saw it as the first shot of an argument and retaliated with silence.
“ZARG. FOOD’S READY.” An extra level of threat sat within the tone this time.
“WHAT?” He knew exactly what, and why; however he felt it his teenage duty to make her work for his appearance.
“YOUR TEA’S ON THE TABLE.” Doreen was prepared to accept it may be difficult to hear through the walls.
“RIGHT.” It would take at least two more shouts before he’d even consider getting off his bed. He stared in to space, in the most literal of senses.
“COME ON. IT’S GETTING COLD.” Technically a true statement, however it would take more than the three seconds between calls before it would be too cold to eat.
“RIGHT. I’M COMING.” He smirked at his lack of movement.
“IT’LL BE TOO COLD TO EAT IF YOU DON’T HURRY.” Doreen was relentless and well practised. The nightly script poured from her mouth effortlessly.
“MAYBE I LIKE IT COLD.” Zarg hadn’t meant to say the last sentence out loud. It was intended only for his appreciation. He’d strayed in to blatant cheek and knew it. He jumped off his bed as Doreen’s reply came with the added sound of footsteps approaching his room.
“DON’T MAKE ME COME IN THERE.” All the cards were on the table as Zarg folded and entered the living area.
The door opened to reveal a scene of sickening harmony. His father, Ted, sat at the head of the table swapping noises and snippets of conversation with his younger brother Edwin. Edwin sat in his high chair and waved all manner of plastic cutlery around. Doreen was heading towards Zarg’s door. Upon seeing her son appear, her expression changed from annoyance to welcoming delight. She didn’t wish to start a fight before they’d even sat down. She let his back chat go unmentioned but fired a glance with hardened eyes that Zarg understood perfectly.
“Come on son. Sit down while it’s nice and hot.” Doreen continued to flitter around the table, filling plates and rearranging dishes while entertaining Edwin. Zarg took his seat, opposite Edwin and between Ted and Doreen. Each family member had a side of the rectangular eating platform to themselves. “Have you had a fun day dear?” His mother continued to multi task whilst conversing.
“It was alright.” Alright had never been designed to sound so negative.
Ted handed Edwin back his spoon for the ninth time and picked up the jug of water that sat on the table. He looked as though he wished to speak to his son but wanted to avoid confrontation. He raised his query in a friendly manner whilst filling everyone’s glasses. “I hear there was a fracas in the cafeteria today?”
“Really.” Zarg swung his legs uncaringly.
“I hope you weren’t involved son.” Ted had strayed towards accusation. He placed the jug down realising he was in dangerous territory where a volatile teenager was concerned.
“No.” The answer came smothered in defensiveness.
“Only asking. It’s just, you know that Don lad don’t you?” Ted couldn’t help but sound like an accusing father.
“So because I know somebody suddenly I’m involved in everything they do?” Zarg folded his arms and looked hurt.
“I’m not saying that. It’s just that lads like Don have a knack for getting their friends in trouble. You were seen with Don just before the melee, which is the only reason I’m asking.” This is exactly the path Ted had been trying to avoid going down.
“I don’t know why you’re even asking. You seem to think you know the answer already.” This was exactly the path Zarg wished to be on.
“If you tell me you weren’t involved then I’ll fully believe you.” Ted tried to appease the tantrum before it fully erupted. He looked towards Doreen for help.
“You shouldn’t have to ask.” Zarg sensed his father backing down.
“More Ginolium leaf dear?” Doreen intervened and offered her son the bowl of lemon flavoured leaves.
“No. I hate Ginolium leaves.” The tantrum still pushed to come out.
“But you liked it last…..” She realised the pointless battle she was entering. “I’ll leave it here and you can help yourself if you want to.”
“I won’t.” He would. Zarg loved the leaf of the Ginolium.
“Shall we start then?” Doreen ushered everyone to begin eating with the tone of a lady who genuinely believed everything was okay.
“Splendid.” Edwin used one of only three words he knew. His outburst both lightened the mood and let everyone know he’d just worked out his dish can be turned upside down if needed.
Zarg picked up the bowl of Ginolium leaves and piled them on his plate. He considered taking them all to prove a point before realising it wouldn’t prove anything. Doreen sensed he may be ready to participate in a normal conversation and dipped her toe in the verbal pool.
“Are you looking forward to the big day then? We should be landing in a harlen (seven hours).”
“Don’t care.”
“You must be a little excited to see your new home.” She chose to persist.
“It’s not even ours yet. We’ll probably fail anyway. There’ll be something that’s been overlooked. Everyone knows you can’t take over an Earth without a band of heroes coming together and working tirelessly in vain of their own safety for the sake of all others.” Zarg filled his mouth with leaves and chewed. It was a long sentence in these days of huffs and grunts.
“Now, son.” Ted used a more serious, adult tone to take up Zarg’s point. “Our Commander spent many darnums (one darnum equals approx two weeks) working on this plan. It has been declared fool proof to the highest statistical levels our mathematics understands. We will succeed.”
“Splendid.” Edwin thought he may be able to help, and possibly get his spoon back from the floor.
“You see. Your brother agrees. The hero factor has been considered long and hard and has been practically eradicated by our ingenuity. It will be our new home.” Ted intended his statement to be the last word on the matter. Zarg paused long enough for Ted to fill his mouth with food before adding his riposte.
“Practically eradicated implies not fully. We all know something will go wrong to give at least a few humans a fighting chance.” Ted tried to reply but couldn’t squeeze the words past his tea. Zarg continued. “If we’re so confident the Earthlings will be immobile why are we still using our cloaking device upon landing?” Zarg felt confident in his logic as Ted swallowed quickly.
“It’s standard operating procedure to always use a cloaking device when landing on a planet without atmosphere security. It is that level of preparation and attention to detail that will allow us to succeed.” Ted swigged his water in the hope it would dislodge a chunk of leaf from his throat.
“You can’t plan for everything. We studied humans in Movie History before leaving. Some coincidence will contrive to take advantage of our ‘ingenuity.”
“Are you aware of the kind of coincidence required to be left unaffected by o
ur Time Displacement Beam?” Ted reverted to science to prove his point.
“More than aware father.”
“Maybe I can offer an impartial opinion.” Doreen had watched on for long enough. She wanted to be a part of the discussion, if only to be able to speak to her son in a normal fashion. “What would be needed?”
“Would you like to inform your mother?” Ted offered the explaining duties to Zarg.
“Not at all. Go ahead oh father of mine.” Ted had to double check he wasn’t being mocked before beginning. “The only way to avoid the beams power is if the person in question is within a twelve mile radius……”
“…That doesn’t sound too difficult.”
“I haven’t finished dear.”
“Oh sorry. Carry on.”
“Thank you. If the person is in a twelve mile radius, and at the exact point of contact is wearing a cylindrical shaped helmet with differing sized ends that is surrounded by a strong life force.” Doreen’s face contorted as the words sank in. Her judgement was preceded by several seconds of silence.
“Well that doesn’t sound very likely at all. More pie anyone?”
“If you ask me it’s a blatant loophole.” Zarg slipped back into sulking as Ted beamed smugly. Silence and general poking of food would be the teenager’s response.
“Splendid.” Edwin needed to learn some new words.
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