Exploring Explorer
1512 Words
Tiger turns to Captain James. "May I continue my leave by showing Vlon around?"
"It's your leave." Captain James responds, "Use it how you want."
Tiger nods his head and heads for the door. I stand up and follow him. Once we're in the hallway Tiger asks, "What would you like to see?"
"Whatever you want to show me." I state calmly.
Tiger thinks for a moment before replying, "You said you left your ship to experience new things."
I nod my head, wondering where this is going.
"Have you ever experienced a farm?" He inquires.
I shake my head. "When we visit a planet it's usually a city, that's where the officials are who grant permission for our presence, and it's where there's a wide variety of businesses to get what we need."
Tiger grins. "Then you're in for a treat."
He leads me to a raiser, but we take it down.
"So, tell me a little about this space twin celebration." Tiger says as we start moving.
"It's as much a ceremony as it is a celebration." I inform him, "They'll each pick a helper, usually a family member. My brother will likely pick me."
"I'm the only family Valor has here." Tiger tells me, "Our parents are too old to be approved for the trip, but they didn't want Valor to miss out."
I swallow hard, not wanting to broach the bubble of pain I sense deep in him. So, instead I say, "Well, I hope you aren't afraid of blood."
"Never have been." Tiger states.
The door to the raiser opens. We step out, and the smell hits me. I grab my nose, and breath shallow, not wanting to taste the air.
Tiger chuckles. "Your reaction tells me this is a new odor for you."
I scan his face. "You appear to be used to it."
"I grew up on a farm." Tiger informs me, "It's one of the reasons I was on a short list for being second in command on this expedition."
"Interesting." I reply.
He leads me to the first area. "These are cows. We use them for milk for drinking and making some foods. We also eat the meat."
"I've had animal meat." I tell him, "But, unfortunately, I'm more accustomed to having to eat synthetic foods rather than fresh."
Tiger leads me to another area. I've quit plugging my nose, but I still don't breath any deeper than I have to. Tiger points to a beautiful creature and informs me, "These are horses. They're used for riding, and helping with chores."
"They're gorgeous." I exclaim, "And powerful."
"Would you like to meet one?" Tiger asks with a grin.
I nod my head slowly, as I stare at the wondrous creatures before me.
Tiger pulls me a few stalls down. "This is my horse, Angel, she's pregnant." Tiger points to the next stall, where a bigger, black horse is standing. "That's Valor's horse, and he's the daddy. We've been jokingly arguing about who gets the foal, or baby."
I reach out to touch the white female in front of me. She grunts and leans into my hand. Tiger slips something into my other hand.
I look down at the red ball like object.
Tiger explains, "It's called an apple. It's a treat for her."
I lift it so she can see. Angel quickly and gently removes the apple from my hand. I laugh at the simple pleasure.
Tiger smiles and announces, "I think she likes you."
"I like her." I easily admit as I pet her nose, and then scratch behind her ear. Then I look over at the black horse and ask, "What's his name?"
"Stalker." Tiger answers, "When he was first weaned he followed Valor everywhere. My dad started calling him Valor's Stalker. It didn't take long for it to be shortened to Stalker."
I laugh freely. "What a great way to get your name." I tell Stalker.
The horse snorts and nods his head.
Tiger gives him an apple as I ask, "Why are you and your brother arguing over the foals, when there's two in her womb?"
Tiger stares at me and asks, "What makes you think that?"
"I can sense them." I state, "A male and a female."
Tiger grins. "That's great news, but don't tell Valor. I enjoy our playful argument."
I laugh.
Tiger then shows me an array of other animals, explaining what each does, or is used for, before we leave the stinky level and go up to his quarters.
He opens his door and a furry creature leaps out, and into my arms, and immediately starts licking me.
"I think one of your animals broke loose." I say between trying not to let it lick in my mouth and laughing.
"This is my pet. He's a dog, and lives in our quarters with us." Tiger explains, "His name is Pouncer."
I put Pouncer down. He happily turns to Tiger, who pets his head as he enter the quarters. I follow them in.
Tiger steps behind a small counter. "Would you like a drink?"
I shrug my shoulders. "I guess I'm a little thirsty."
He pours a dark liquid into a glass. "Whisky?"
I stare at him funny. "Are you asking, or telling?"
He chuckles and replies, "This is whisky, but I'm asking if that's what you would like."
I pick up his glass and smell it. The odor repulses me. I put it back down as I state, "Definitely not."
He uncorks another drink and let's me smell it. I quickly shake my head.
"Brandy is a no." He declares, and moves on.
After smelling Vodka, Gina, Champaign, Wine, and Beer, Tiger announces, "I don't think you like alcohol."
I shrug my shoulders.
Tiger goes to a square in the wall, opens it, and pulls out a container. "Have you ever had apple cider?"
"Not to the best of my knowledge." I answer.
He lets me smell it.
It doesn't repulse me, so I say, "I'll try it."
He pours me a glass.
I taste it. "I can drink this." I tell him with a grin.
Tiger sets the rest of the container on the counter and grabs his own drink. Then he informs me, "I've never met anyone who didn't like any alcohol. Some people only like certain types, some people like it all, some even like it too much. I'm definitely going to find it interesting getting to know you."
"What is the purpose of alcohol?" I inquire.
"Well, mostly to get drunk." Tiger answers, "Some people think it makes things more fun, others use it to forget something, and some call it liquid courage."
"So, why do you want to be drunk?" I ask, trying to understand.
Tiger takes the seat next to me and explains, "I'm not trying to get drunk. You can drink just a little, and not get drunk."
"Then, what's the purpose of drinking now?" I inquire as I narrow my eyes at him. This doesn't make sense to me.
He sighs and admits, "I wanted to see what kind of person you are."
"Alcohol tells you this?"
"Many believe that ones choice in alcohol says a lot about a person." Tiger informs me.
"Then, what does whisky say about you?" I inquire before drinking some of my cider.
"That I'm down to Thare, no nonsense." Tiger explains, "Not fancy, not weak, what you see is what you get."
I tilt my head and look at him, trying to tune out the draw I feel towards this strange man, so I can evaluate him better.
He turns away from me and adds, "At least that's what people from Thare believe. I was curious how that logic applies to other species, and you're the first I've had an opportunity to drink with."
I laugh. "It's a shame you're not at least part Nyrarian like me, or you wouldn't need to try such unreliable methods to read me."
"Nyrarian." Tiger repeats.
I inform him, "That's what our mom was. The majority of the population is empathic. The gene skipped my mom, but my brothers and I have it."
"And your sister?" Tiger inquires.
I shrug my shoulders. "She claims to have it, but if so she isn't tuned in properly."
"Tuned in?"
I sigh. "You have to have an intuition of how to read the universal vibrations. She can on people she knows well, especially in close proximity, but is less reliable on people she has just met, and the further away she is from what she is trying to read, the worse she is. Where as I can tell you that our brothers are looking for us, and headed this way."
Tiger gives Pouncer a treat, and heads to his door. Just as the door opens Valor rushes in, followed closely by Jorman.
Valor smiles and declares, "I can't believe he was right about you guys being here."
Tiger states, "We were just heading to the cafeteria, care to join us?"
Jorman nods his head.
Valor groans, "I guess."
- Writer
