Hotbloods 6: Allies

To my surprise, Angie told the story about us hiding in the shed on New Year’s Eve, where the three of us giggled like idiots while slowly freezing our asses off. It was an amusing memory, especially told from her perspective. She even described how we’d finally revealed ourselves, and mimicked the way Lauren’s mother had screamed when we snuck up on her.

When the circle reached Ronad, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. His story was about the first time he’d told Naya he loved her. They had been sitting on the banks of Lake Tristitia, with the stars glittering overhead. He’d brought a picnic out for them, though he’d been too nervous to eat. They’d lied to Jareth, saying they were going to a screening in town, so they weren’t worried about getting home on time. When she got too cold, he’d wrapped her up warm and pulled her to him, brushing away a strand of hair and gazing down into her eyes. There, beneath the stars, he’d told her everything he felt, pouring out his heart to her. And she had said the same in return. It was a simple story, but it resonated with me.

Navan told the story of me eating hot noodle soup with him in Siberia, before dancing in the local festival. That was a nice memory, too, though it seemed to belong to a different girl, now that I was hearing it again.

And then, it came around to me. I poured my red juice and wondered what I was going to say. In the end, I settled for the story of Navan masquerading as my boyfriend on the very same day that my birthparents showed up at the door. I told everyone how that moment had changed the way I looked at Navan forever, though I’d had no idea where it would lead. With a smile, I downed my drink, passing the proverbial baton back to Stone.

This time, he told a tale about a mission he’d undertaken to steal a very important item of machinery from a Fed outpost. It was stolen technology anyway, he figured, so he’d had no qualms about taking it. He laughed, reminiscing over the way Alfa had been forced to cling to the ship with his claws as they took off, leaving scratches in the exterior for weeks after.

Before he could pass the storytelling on to Lauren, Xiphio interrupted.

“Well, I remember my first years as a fresh, enthusiastic young Fed agent,” he began drunkenly. “I was performing to the best of my ability, bringing in criminals and saving lives, living out a true career dream. No two days were the same, and I felt as though I was doing something wonderfully useful in the universe. I had a purpose and a calling, and I had never felt prouder.

“And then, a document landed on my desk, detailing a grave disaster that was due to befall the poor inhabitants of a planet named Tiburon. It ought to have been the crowning moment of my fledgling career… and it would have been, were it not for the actions of a foolish, barbaric criminal.”

Lauren burst out laughing, clamping a hand over her mouth in embarrassment. “I’m so sorry, Xiphio!” she said, her voice muffled, her eyes going wide.

Stone smirked. “For all those missin’ something, he’s talking ‘bout me.”

“I apologize, I was under the impression it was my turn to speak?” Xiphio protested, clearly irritated at Stone’s interjection.

“It was Ren’s turn to speak. Either way, my tradition don’t permit the spreading o’ slurs on a man’s good character,” Stone replied calmly. “You’re using it for your own ends, not to offer good feelin’ and joy among us.”

“Perhaps you should have explained the rules a little more clearly,” Xiphio muttered.

Stone chuckled. “There ain’t no rules, just common courtesy.”

“You asked me to tell a story, so I chose one!” Xiphio fired back.

“Well, how’s about I say my piece on your tale?” Stone said. “Two sides to every story, right? Looks like everyone here’s heard your side—you were just givin’ it a repeat for my sake, to try and embarrass me or somethin’. I think it’s time they knew what I had to say! I’m sure it’s more interestin’ this way.”

“I’m sure it will be a false account but, by all means, be my guest!” Xiphio muttered, folding his arms across his chest.

“See, this ‘ere agent made the grave mistake of ignorin’ the pleas of the Tiburon folk, to be given another place to live,” Stone began. “Their planet were half dead and their sun were near enough snuffed, but this lad thought he knew best. Off he went on his wee mission, his head stuffed full o’ self-righteous rubbish, ignorin’ what the Tiburonians said. He even held a meetin’ with ‘em and told them they’d have to move back, once the asteroid had been exploded. Signin’ their death warrant, was this guy!”

“That is completely false, Mr. Stone, and you know it!” Xiphio interjected. “I was following Fed orders. People cannot simply be given new planets, just because they don’t like the state of their old one. Their sun had at least two millennia remaining, and their planet was habitable, if a little polluted. If they did not wish to live in dirt and dust and grime, then they should’ve taken better care of their ecosystem!”

Stone laughed. “See, this is what they were dealin’ with! Pure stubborn attitude! It wasn’t their fault their water was drying up and their lands were spent. They’d had to recover from a massive bomb blast that ruined everythin’ in the fallout. Which, I might add, the Fed never did ought about.”

“Because we couldn’t find the culprits!” Xiphio retorted.

“Couldn’t find, or never tried to find?”

“We did everything we could with that investigation!”

Stone snorted. “Not enough, though, right? Those folks were more or less refugees, trapped on a dyin’ planet. Someone had to help ‘em, and you outright refused.”

“No, I followed guidelines! Something you have no concept of!”

“So, I did what Agent Xiphio ‘ere wouldn’t. I followed ‘im and moved the charges to a different asteroid when he weren’t looking. The other asteroid hit Tiburon, and everyone got what they wanted. The Tiburonians had already been evacuated, and they got the new planet they’d been dreamin’ of. Job done, problem solved, we all went home happy.”

“Not everyone got what they wanted, Mr. Stone! My career was in tatters!”

He shrugged. “Someone always has to pay a price, Xiphio. Weren’t it worth it, now you think back?”

“No, it most certainly was not!” Xiphio looked like he was about to lunge for Stone, his cheeks a furious shade of purple, his gills flapping a million times a second.

“Hey, hey, simmer down, everyone!” I said. “This is supposed to be a party, and there shouldn’t be fighting at a party.”

Stone snickered. “Dunno what parties you’ve been to. Most of ‘em end in a brawl or two.”

“Yeah, well, this one isn’t ending in a fight. We’re supposed to be telling stories that bond us all and give us more insight into one another, right? Isn’t that the purpose of your tradition, Stone?”

“Well, I’ll be damned. Yer right, Ri,” he replied, looking surprisingly sheepish.

“Good, then I hope you don’t mind if I interject, to calm things down a bit,” I said. “See, the thing is, I keep looking around at you all and wondering how the hell we all got here. Part of me is glad we did end up together, but part of me wonders what life would’ve been like if we’d carried on with our normal lives. Only, it’s impossible to think of, because I can’t picture any existence without this guy next to me.” I glanced shyly at Navan, who was gazing at me, a smile on his lips. “I know people don’t always see eye-to-eye, especially when you’re from opposite sides of the universe, but if being with Navan has taught me anything, it’s that you can never trust a first impression.”

“I like where this is goin’!” Stone whistled, listening intently.