Eskal's Tale - Chapter One
#1 of Eskal's Tale
Urokon, Uroki System, Eastern Spiral Arm - 2848AD "I'm still hoping I can talk you out of this, Eskal." Eskal T'Rol, brother of the Noble Lord of House Tu'ri, gave a weary look that said brother had become increasingly familiar with of late. "You can't, Vaahn, but I do appreciate you trying." The two Kyyreni were stood at Yvenik's starport, sheltered from the afternoon rain by a corrugated awning. Men and women of various races - mostly Kyyreni, but some offworlders - came and went around them, paying no heed to their private conversation. "Mind if I ask where you'll go?" Eskal shrugged. "I've bartered passage on a Chaldakri freighter. They'll take me Downspin beyond the Colonial powers and the Free Armadas. They say there are species beyond that we've not yet met. I'd like to meet them." "They might be hostile," Vaahn warned. "We are hostile," Eskal countered. "That's why I'm leaving, remember? I'm tired of living this way. I'm tired of seeing you get chopped into pieces in that bloody arena. I'm tired of friends going off 'raiding' and coming back crippled, or not coming back at all. Most of all, I'm tired of people trying to drag me into that life. There has to be a better way, Vaahn, and I intend to find it." Vaahn raised his left hand and flexed his fingers. Three of them were mechanical; a costly wound acquired just last year along with his Nobility. With a sigh he dropped the limb and turned his attention to his backpack, which he slung off his back to present to Eskal. "There's a few bottles of ourl in there, as well as some good vintage wines and rare ales. I figured if you were going to be gone a long time you'd want plenty to drink; never know when you'll get more, right?" For the first time in a long time, Eskal found himself smiling. "Thank you," he said, with not a hint of falsehood. "I will miss you, Vaahn." He would have said more, but Vaahn's bearhug squeezed the air from his lungs. "You will always be welcome here. Just promise me one thing; come home someday." Finally freed of his brother's grip, Eskal took a moment to compose himself before taking up the backpack. "I'll do my best."
Turning his back on Vaahn hurt more than he'd imagined. His stomach knotted itself tighter and tighter with every step; every day of his life he'd dreamed of leaving home - or at least, leaving his adopted brother, Uikke - far behind. Twenty one years of dreaming, and now he was having second thoughts. He walked as far as he could stand before turning around to look back the way he came. He'd gone too far; Vaahn was lost somewhere beyond the crowds and the myriad of stalls that made up the outer regions of the port. That discovery seemed to lift some of the weight and the going became easier. In due course he found the jumper that would carry him to the orbital ring, and from there it was the work of a few minutes to track down his freighter. Four days later, Eskal T'Rol translated out of the system for the last time in his natural life.
Earth, Sol System, Western Spiral Arm - 2873AD It had not been a good day. It had not been a good week. Frankly, the whole month could go to hell as far as Eskal was concerned; today had just been the icing on the cake. He walked back to his apartment through a rainstorm so fierce the raindrops were bouncing off the pavement and slapping his chin on the rebound. He walked with his hands thrust into his pockets; one gripping his door card, the other the crumpled, slightly soggy note from the bank. He'd gone to discuss a loan that he'd planned to put toward Rejuvenation. At forty six, he knew his biological clock was running out - a fact that everyone else on Earth seemed to scoff at. He didn't blame them; he was the only Kyyreni they'd ever seen. He'd likely be the only one they'd ever see. He stopped outside his apartment and flailed at the door until the card reader finally pinged green and let him in. The building was a five story structure, easily visible on the Rhode Island skyline. It was a product of the post-war expansion era; simple, easily reproduced high-volume housing to accommodate the tens of thousands of refugees the conflict created. He'd learned the story of the place when he'd first moved in; how the Talosians had sought to wipe the continent clean of life three centuries before. Atlanta had been the first, distroyed in the nuclear fire of a terrorist attack. Boston went the same way less than three hours later. As Eskal understood it, it was something of a miracle the eastern seaboard still existed at all. Despite its age, the venerable building was still a fine place to live. The halls were clean and the air smelled faintly of fresh flowers. He'd always wondered why the owner felt that was necessary, but had never got around to asking. Said owner joined him in the elevator as he climbed up to the roof. He looked to the Kyyreni and smiled warmly. His name was James, and he prided himself on knowing everyone in the apartment, even if he did have to cheat and use his iHUD to consult their resident profiles for names. "Eskal, how are you? Have a good day?" "No I did not," Eskal answered wearily. "Oh, before I forget; I might not be moving out after all." "Ah," James said, and that was all he had to. "Don't you have any family around who can look after you?" Eskal shook his head. "My family are on the other side of the galaxy." The doors slid open and they both stepped out onto the edge of a polished stone walkway. Before them lay a lush green paradise protected from the storms outside by an eco-dome. Artificial birdsong played from hidden speakers, largely lost beneath the sounds of children at play. The building was P-rated, but all Rejuved children liked to act their physical age when they could. "Listen, you didn't hear this from me, but have you considered... getting the justice system to cover your bills?" Eskal shook his head. "I don't think I'm that desperate. I don't much want to die, but is being a Penny really better?" James shrugged. "I think, if I had to, I'd go that far. Take care, Eskal; I'll make sure your apartment's there for you as long as you need it."
He found his favourite spot in the rooftop park and sat in it with a grateful sigh, cursing how old age had bestowed him so many aches and pains. Despite his previous statements he found himself considering the Penny route; with so little savings and no credit rating to speak of, there was no hope of buying a carer. Lost in that grim thought, he almost failed to notice he was not alone. A small boy of about six years old was sat on the edge of the bench. The child was curled up as though afraid the whole world was out to get him; a brief glance at his hands helped provide some explanation as to why. "You've not been a Penny long have you young man?" The question made the child's head snap round sharply. His featured flickered from fear to cautious calm when the anticipated spanking failed to materialise. "I... yeah... yes sir, I mean. I was rejuved three weeks ago." "It shows," Eskal said, though not unkindly. "Despite how I may look I don't bite. You needn't be scared of me, lad." The child nodded but gave no further comment, so Eskal soldiered on. "Do you have a name?" "I'm Danny," said Danny. "Eskal," Eskal replied. "What did you do, if you don't mind my asking?" "Looting and criminal trespass." "Was it worth it?" The question caught Danny off guard, but his mother appeared before he could answer. "Danny, I brought you up here so you could make some friends and play. Go join those kids and stop bothering that man!" Eskal gave a faint chuckle and replied with, "he's no bother. In fact, this old man welcomes his company. He reminds me a lot of someone I used to know." "Who?" Danny asked, curious. "A young man who made a choice; one he sometimes regrets." He turned his attention back to the mother. "I really don't mind keeping an eye on your boy if needs be." She gave a friendly smile of her own and wandered over. Eskal wordlessly made room for her. "It's a nice offer, but it's my job to keep an eye on him. Not exactly fair to pass that off to someone else now is it?" Through a series of exchanges that were about nothing in particular, Eskal learned he was speaking with Marie Anders, professional parent and widow of a soldier in the Confederate military who'd gone to war on behalf of the Icaran Federation and never come home. That, by a strange coincidence, gave them something in common, though neither of them was entirely sure if that was a good thing or not. An hour passed pleasantly, and when Marie took her son back home she left Eskal with her apartment number and an invitation to dinner. The aging Kyyreni turned his eyes back to the heavens and studied the sky, noting how the clouds were parting and the sun was coming out once more. "Perhaps today wasn't a total loss after all..."
Two weeks later, Marie found herself stood outside apartment 244 with her son in tow. This was quite unusual, since she'd called around twice before and Eskal had always been very punctual at answering the door. She tried knocking on the off chance the buzzer had broken, but there was still no luck. "Hello there!" came a voice from down the hall. A few seconds later, James' iHUD acquired Marie's data via face recognition and he continued, "Marie, how are you? Is this young Danny? What brings you here?" "We were supposed to be having dinner with Mr Brahltson," Danny answered politely. "But he won't answer his door." James paused at the door and eyed it up suspiciously. "Excuse me a moment..." His master card unlocked the door and he pushed it open a fraction. "Hello? Eskal? It's James, the landlord. It's just that when we spoke a few weeks ago... well, I wanted to make sure everything was... alright..." Everything was clearly not alright. Eskal lay face down in the middle of his living room, unmoving. James rushed to him and tried to check for a pulse, but couldn't find one. In truth, he wasn't even sure if he was looking in the right place. "Call! Emergency! Ambulance!" he shouted, and the iHUD obeyed at once. "Eskal, can you hear me? Paramedics are coming! Eskal? Eskal!"
* * *
A young Kyyreni boy opened his eyes, and was quite surprised not to see a skull-faced Shepherd stood over him. Instead there was a human woman with curly brown hair and the soft, welcoming features of everyone's favourite teacher. That face had a name. "Marie?" "Eskal, you're awake! I was so worried!" Marie disappeared from view, replaced by a less welcoming doctor's face. "Mr Brahltson? Do you know where you are?" "No," the Kyyreni replied weakly. "I was at home and... it gets a bit vague. I think I was making dinner." "You had a cardiac arrest. We were able to revive you and performed a Rejuvenation procedure. How do you feel?" 'Confused' was the only answer that fit. Marie asked that they could have some time alone to talk and the doctor agreed, giving her a chance to bring the Rejuved boy up to speed. "James told me about your money problems," she said. "I know we've not known each other long, but you seem a nice person and I didn't want you to die because you couldn't afford parents so... I told them we were in a relationship." Several responses competed for control of Eskal's mouth as this information sank in. He eventually settled on, "...why?" "Because you needed a helping hand, and I'm a trained parent. James even agreed he'd refund you this month's rent and he'll lend a hand moving your stuff out." The boy gave a pained groan and rubbed his temples forcefully. "Marie, you must know I can't afford this..." "I'm not asking for payment," Marie replied as she took the boy's hand in hers and gave it a comforting squeeze. "If you really feel obligated you can pay me back when you've grown up and found a job. All I'm trying to do is help out a friend." "Then all I can say is thanks," Eskal said.