Alone

Chapter 16: Trouble

Tristan POV

I have been waiting in this crap hole for hours. I am a very important and busy man and the fact that they think they can just leave me here and make me wait forever is ridiculous! They are going to hear about this and they will learn to show someone like me some serious respect! Not only do they make me wait here for hours but the trip here took over a day to complete. This better not be a waste of my precious time!

It may be hard to believe, but I'm now on the planet Neba, a place where no living human has ever left. I will most definitely be leaving this disgusting planet and a much more wealthy man, may I add.

I am here for a meeting with General Gurd, the general who had private dealings with my father previously. This time however, he will be dealing directly with me and I will be cutting out my father completely. It may sound harsh, the way I am so cavalier when it comes to my father but, he is a complete failure and disaster in all aspects of his life. I have no respect for him as a father or even as a man. He will get the end he deserves.

Anyway, back to today and this meeting that I am losing my patience over because of how long I'm being made to wait!

Ugh, being stuck on this horrible planet is enough to make any man want to die!

Upon the approach to land on Neba, the entire planet is surrounded by a thick, green, cloudy atmosphere that looks and smells foul like smog. After you land, so much dust and general crap is dusted up into the air surrounding your entire ship. You have to wait in the ship for close to an hour for most of it to settle before attempting to leave.

The air here is breathable but you're still encouraged to wear an oxygen apparatus that was specifically designed to help you breath in a toxic environment but also produce a pleasant smell in case you're stuck somewhere particularly foul smelling.

On any other occasion I would definitely wear the oxygen mask but for today and for this meeting, it would only show weakness in the general's eyes. So I elected not to wear it. For the first few hours the stench was tolerable but now I'm ready to throw up and immediately pass out! If I do that then I will most definitely be showing weakness to the general. He better hurry the f**k up before I do that just on principle!

Not only does this place look like one hundred million nuclear bombs went off, with all the dilapidated buildings and debris everywhere but there are dead bodies both human and the occasional Neban citizen and piles of bones from past victims. You would never find any place like this on earth. I am terrified but absolutely cannot show it, but the minute this meeting is over I am getting the hell out of here!

Even the destination for today's meeting is appalling. I was told we were going to discuss everything at the generals personal residence but this place has so far not impressed me at all. The room I've been trapped in for the past half day is atrocious! The walls are a mint green wallpaper that's falling off and curling in most parts while the rug is a shaggy brown s**t color with hard parts all over. The couch that I reluctantly sat on is also brown but I'm guessing it used to be cream colored a very long time ago and is covered in holes with yellow stuffing poking out.

They were kind enough to attempt to feed me and I must emphasize attempt. I have been provided with a bowl of water and yes I said bowl as if I'm a dog and they also gave me another bowl that contains moldy bread and I'm unsure if it used to be butter or some kind of jam. No, I have not touched a single thing because again it shows weakness and its also too disturbing to even look at.

If this is what is considered wealthy according to Neban standards then they have a thing or two to learn. That is definitely one of the topics I'm bringing up during this meeting.

I finally start to hear footsteps coming down the hall. I am more than ready for this meeting but with every step that he comes closer my heart begins to pound harder. I will agree to saying he intimidates me but that is all. The door opens with a loud bang and in strides a gigantic monster and now I will admit I'm terrified and trying so hard to hide it but I can feel the sweat beading up on my forehead.

" Tristan Adams, I was told you have something to tell me," the general's voice booms out. I can feel his voice vibrate through the whole room.

I step forward and extend my hand for a shake, "Yes, I do but I would like to discuss the topic while we make a new arrangement, something that benefits us both much more than the arrangement you currently have with my father."

"The arrangement I have with your father is fine so you must have come here as a tribute to me. I will greatly enjoy feasting on you."

At this time I'm shaking and I know it's noticeable. I try to regain my composure before I address what he just said. "General Gurd, I assure you that what I have to offer you you're going to want to know. All I'm asking of you is perhaps some compensation for my efforts. Only what I was previously promised is fine with me." I slowly back away while holding uncomfortable eye contact with him. His eyes are huge and yellow and menacing like snake eyes and he is staring me down like I'm his prey.

He starts to smile at me and its creepy as hell until he bursts out laughing. "Oh young Tristan, you will not be food...today," more laughing, " Our original arrangement with you is secure. You have been very helpful so far and I have no opinion on what happens to your father. Now if you will please tell me what information you have that was important to deliver yourself to our planet which is forbidden."

He put me at ease for only a moment and then rips me back up on my toes with my stomach in my throat.

"I know it's f*******n but this sensitive information could not just go out through sub space communications so just anyone could hear," I sit down and pull out some of my files with very shaky hands. "I am sorry to have to tell you this but the man who destroyed your battleship is still alive. Captain Kyle Shepherd is definitely still alive."

While I continue to go through my paperwork I begin to hear a rumbling growl. I slowly look up to see the general staring me down and growling at me and before I can realize he has lunged at me from across the room and now has me pinned against the far wall. My oxygen is getting severely low with his hands around my throat slowly strengthening his grip.

"What the f**k do you mean Captain Shepherd is still alive!? There is no way he survived that explosion, no way! Explain yourself now or I will eat you," he lowers me to the ground and stomps back to his spot across the room.

"General, as I was trying to explain to you, yes he is alive but I know where he is and we can get rid of him with no issue." Ever since I came to the conclusion that he survived the explosion, I've been working hard and using many connections to find out what happened and where he is. I pull out some maps from within my files and display them in front of the general. "I have been able to locate him within this quadrant of the universe. After the explosion of your battleship, it was so large it created a mini blackhole and Captain Shepherd was carried through this blackhole before it stabilized and ended up somewhere in this vicinity of space," I gesture towards the maps. "There are some solar systems that may sustain life and also alot of comets. The area may seem large but I'm sure once you're there it will be easy to find him."

I finally feel like I can release the deep breath I didn't realize I was holding.

General Gurd stands up tall and looks down at me "Thank you for this information, our original arrangement with only you still stands. Now leave before you're detected by either your forces or mine and ruin everything!"

He stomps out of the room and it feels like the whole house is shaking.

I proceed out of the room moments after the general. I speed towards my space cruiser, walking lightly so not to arouse suspicion. Once I finally reach my ship, I race inside and start it up. I make sure to cloak it and turn on the ventilation system because the stench of that rotten planet feels like it's stuck in my pores!

I need to get home and prepare for the award dinner and get sexy for my bride to be. I also need to get as far away as possible from this place and just get it out of my system. I've been nothing but nerves lately and I want to be relaxed for my new wife so we can make my heir sooner rather than later.

I'm going to be a great father and make my son just like me. He will be successful in life and in love. *wink wink*

Now it's just an entire day trip and then I'll be home. I suppose I'll design my new space ship that will be made for me by the Neba for my valiant help in their victory. I will soon have everything I deserve and finally my life will be great.