Boston, part 3
#3 of Boston
Author's Note: This was supposed to be the first part of a longer story, but unfortunately due to work I've been forced to postpone this for a little while. In the meantime, here is 2 pages of...pages.
"Oh, boy. I'm nervous." Boston took a few heavy breaths. It was going to be his first time meeting the group of scientists who organised the whole "Find another planet to replace Earth" project. His boyfriend, Nick, patted him comfortably on the shoulder.
"Don't worry. I'm sure they'll warm up to you. You've got a great personality." Nick smiled affectionately. Technically, he was breaking the rules, since Boston was not part of the project. In fact, he wasn't even from Earth, though you really couldn't tell just by looking. By all means, he seems just like a sentient Labrador/terrier dog hybrid.
Yes, Boston was an alien, and an illegal entity - Nick cringed at that phrase - on board his spaceship, but Nick was determined that Boston was to stay, no matter what the other scientists said. As he got nearer to the base, though, he was starting to have his doubts. Was this _really_a good idea? He might get kicked out of the programme, but that was the least of his worries. He knew first-hand how vicious humans can be. Mainly because he was one, but Nick preferred to pretend he wasn't. One look at his home planet, or the remains of it, was enough to convince him that they really weren't the best of races.
"Oi, Nick, we're landing." Boston nudged Nick, making him look up at the windshield. Terrible name, windshield, for something on a spaceship. Still, this was not the time to dwell on weird names, because both of them were trying to focus on landing the ship, which was no easy task. Boston frowned in concentration as he kept track of the readings streaming in onto the ship's monitor. Glancing over, Nick saw Boston's expression and smiled to himself. Boston may have come from a tribe in the stone age, but he was quickly able to master piloting the ship. Nick had suspected that his species had better intellect than humans - dogs usually do - but he kept that to himself. Boston never actually acted that way. Usually, he was this fun, easy-going, his little goofball that liked to make jokes and laugh around with him.
With a soft thump, the spaceship landed onto the docking station at the base. Nick thought it to be wise that he talked to the scientists before Boston appeared, so he instructed him to stay on the ship. Boston nodded, agreeing that that was probably a wise idea. Better give some prior warning to those on board.
Nick took a deep breath and tried to calm his nerves as the ship's hangar door opened. He really shouldn't be worried. He knew all of the scientists, and was on friendly terms with pretty much all of them. But still, protocols were protocols, and however much he might know the guys, he was still acting against the code of conduct. But still, how can anyone not warm up to Boston?
"Ah, Professor Flannigan. Welcome home." One of the scientists at the base stepped forward and gave a bow. "I trust your mission to scour sector 8173 for suitable planets has been successful?" Nick knew that voice. It was Professor Aimzier, one of the senior scientists and the leader of the project. Nick never got on with him much. He was usually grumpy and disliked chatting. In his mind, nothing was more important than to find a new planet for the human race to colonise.
One of the other scientists - Professor Marigold, Nick recalled - stepped forward. "Nick! So glad to see you. I hope you're OK." Nick smiled. Aimzier frowned. One of the other things he disliked involved using first names to greet each other. But however much he insisted on calling everyone else by their proper titles, they still stuck to first names. Nick, and quite possibly everyone else, preferred that, because it seemed friendlier this way. If they were going to work together, there was no point in not getting to know each other better.
"Janet. I've had quite a bit of fun. You wouldn't believe some of the things we saw. Currently I've identified 3 planets that seemed good to colonise." Behind him, Aimzier frowned again. Another thing he disliked - fun. "May I remind you, Professor Flannigan, that Project E is not 'fun'. It is a serious matter of finding a new planet to take as our home, and I ask of you to respect that." Nick rolled his eyes. It was supposed to be called "Project Earth 2.0", but Aizmier also hated that for one reason or ten and insisted on calling it "Project E", like some boring company proposal form.
"Also, may I ask of you what do you mean by 'we'?" Aimzier gave a cold stare. Nick gulped. Whoops. He was hoping to talk with everyone else, discuss the latest gossip and so on before he talked about Boston. Ah well, no turning back now. "Yes, Professor Aimzier, 'we'." (No one knew his first name, and even if they did, he certainly would NOT have approved.) "For I have picked up a...guest during my travels." Nick tried to sound confident, but it was hard when Aimzier was staring at him.
Another of the scientists stepped forward. Professor Matthew Bungalow. Nick had always been curious on his last name, but never dared to ask. Bungalow cleared his throat. "A guest, you say, Nick? Who is he? Or is it a she?" He raised his eyebrows in that is-this-what-I'm-thinking expression. He was half-right in that sense, Nick thought. Boston was his love interest, but he had "neglected" to mention to everyone else in the base about his sexual preference. Nick was pretty sure that nearly everyone would be OK with that. Nearly, of course. He glanced over at Aimzier, who was still giving him a death-stare.
"No, it is a he, but I have grown to be very fond of him. He is like a brother to me." Nick turned around back at the ship, expecting Boston at the top. But he was already at the bottom, leaning against one of the hydraulic beams of the ship, wearing a pair of pants, a T-Shirt and a jacket. He looked up at the four, as if noticing them for the first time, and said, "Sup?"
Nick wanted to punch him in the face. This was supposed to be a formal meeting, not some casual whoops-I-stumbled-into-your-top-secret-base "Sup". Who the hell still uses that word?! Nick was about to say something when a squeal made him turn around.
"Oh my god, he is SO CUTE!" Janet had her hands clasped together, and looked as if she wanted to pick up Boston and hug him forever. Matthew, meanwhile, was eyeing Boston warily, as if worried that he was going to bite him. Boston gave a friendly wave, and apparently that settled him. "Huh, a sentient dog. Now I've seen everything. I have to admit, I've always liked dogs. Had one back home, before, uh..." He gestured out towards planet Earth below. Inside, Nick breathed a sigh of relief. Looks like everyone was warming up to him.
"PROFESSOR FLANNIGAN!" Ah. Not everyone. Aimzier stormed over to Nick, eyes, blazing. "What - is the meaning of this? Bringing a stowaway onto your ship, allowing him to stay, taking him to our secret base - you are in direct violation of no less than 3 protocols regarding unauthorised persons for Project E!" Aimzier seemed so mad, Nick thought his head would explode. Boston tried to sink his head into his jacket. It was cute, if the situation wasn't so terrifying.
Thankfully, both Janet and Matthew came to his aid. "Oh, Professor Aimzier, I'm sure that Nick is well aware of the protocols, and has checked that his friend over there will mean no harm." Janet was trying to soothe the professor's nerves. "Yes, Professor Aimzier, I agree with Professor Marigold here. This guy - " He gestured at Boston, realized he didn't know his name, and turned to me. "What's his name?"
"Boston."
"Boston, here, is quite clearly simply a friend of Professor Flannigan. As you know, Flannigan is very careful with everything. I am quite confident that he is aware of the risks involved, and has chosen carefully."
"Careful or not, he is still violating protocols by bringing that creature on board." Nick cringed. "I am afraid that we shall have to expel both Professor Flannigan and his friend." Aimzier spoke the word _friend_as if he didn't quite grasp the concept. So everything was not going to plan. Nick had worried about this.
"But, Professor Aimzier," Janet strode over and stood in front of him, "Rule 87 of the Project E protocol guide states that new members can be granted access if they were to prove themselves a valuable asset to the project. I propose that we let Boston over there into the programme." Aimzier looked like he really was going to explode. Before he could say anything, though, Matthew interrupted. "I too propose that Boston is to be let into the programme, and I believe that Professor Flannigan will agree with me." Nick nodded.
Aimzier took a deep breath. When he spoke again, his voice was hard as stone. "Very well. Professor Flannigan's guest will have two months to prove himself to be a useful member of our Project. But if I am not 100% convinced of that, I will have both of them evicted." With that, he stormed out of the room. Nick breathed a sigh of relief. Janet and Matthew were both giving him gestures of support.
"I hope that you're able to convince Alzheimers over there about your friend. Other people might not warm up so easily to him as we did." Janet warned, before also heading out of the docking station. Matthew just gave him a look that said good luck, then followed Janet and exited.
Boston walked up next to Nick. Nick put an arm around his shoulder. "Well, at least we've managed to convince one, and half-convince another. I hope we can be successful in everyone else."
"I hope so too, bud. I hope so, too." He didn't know why, but Nick had a bad feeling about this.