Science-Fiction from the Clothing Department

By Rebekah Rodney

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 8, 2012
• ISBN: 9781469142685

Rebekah Rodney

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Book preview

Contents

Cute Blouse

Long Walks on the Beach

Baby Supermarket

Dream

Erica

Ballet Flats

Grocery Bags

Cloistra and Shyta

The Job Interview

Home

Comstra

20,000,112,000 AD

Drifting

Efvestii

Time-Traveler

Fear of Sinking

Woof-Woof

Material Girl

Cute Blouse

Have you prepared your report for me?

Yes, Empress. The northern Dungos still refuse to share their water with the southern Dungos.

There has to be something the southern Dungos can trade with the north in exchange for their water, said Empress.

I agree, Empress. I’ll see what I can do, said Prime Minister Murray.

Prime Minister Murray exit’s the room.

Did you acquire it? asked Empress.

Agent Kelly came all the way from earth to deliver the top-secret disk to her herself.

Yes, replied agent Kelly, mechanically.

Agent Kelly retrieved the disk out of her purse and handed it over to Empress. It contained the figure that earth offered Forla to trade with them.

Good, Empress praised agent Kelly.

She eagerly slid the translucent rectangular disk into the computer. It asked for a password.

Password? she looked up at agent Kelly.

Trailrobot280, Kelly answered.

They were alone. So there was no need to whisper within the walls of Dungo. Instantly, a figure appeared on the screen.

$580,000,000.

Now all we have to do is offer a slightly higher figure without putting too much pressure on our own financial restraints, of course. Thank you, agent Kelly. When will you be returning to earth?

Right away, Empress, replied Agent Kelly.

How’s the second mission coming along? asked Empress.

Just fine, Empress, replied Agent Kelly.

Good, good. Have a safe trip, said Empress.

I will Empress, responded Kelly.

Empress watched Agent Kelly turn and walk out the room. Empress’ eyes did not leave the back of agent Kelly’s neon pink hair.

Still beautiful, thought Empress.

She remembered when as a little girl that all the girls wanted pink hair. Empress raised out of her chair and walked over to the balcony. She gazed out at her kingdom. Everything slowly, but surely began falling into place. Just as she planned. Her desires were coming to fruition. Empress remembered not too long ago when she began working for 15th Empress as a young woman. Having no power, no glory, no fame. When she was a child, all the advanced civilizations began making contact with one another. Earth’s first lady visited Dungo. She arrived in a space shuttle. She envied her power, glory, and fame. At the time, Dungo had not even begun to step foot into the political nor technological arenas.

Grandma!

Hello, fa-fa, the little girl embraced her grandmother.

Mom, what are you doing on the balcony by yourself? her daughter asked.

Not for long. I’ll be meeting with the Prime Minister of Forla in a couple minutes. Where is your husband? she asked her daughter.

He should be here any minute now. We left him downstairs. He got caught up talking with Prime Minister Murray," said her daughter.

Empress looked at her fa-fa. She had strands of pink neon hair. Empress’ husband was a northerner, with pink hair. Therefore, Charlene her daughter, was born with pink hair. She herself, a southerner. Empress sat in her bedroom stroking, with a brush, her neon blue hair which began to glow as night encroached.

Warring factions are a constant problem on Dungo… , reported 15th Empress to the world Congress.

Her green neon hair stood out among all the congressional members.

That was only half the problem, thought a young impressionable Empress.

This was when Empress was a young representative, and assisted 15th Empress on her political runs.

Northerners refuse to share their water with southerners. Southerners usually have to bend over backwards to the north’s demands before conceding a meager amount of water, reported 15th Empress to the Congress.

Most of the Empress’ spent all their time dealing with Dungos’ domestic problems. Empress had enough. She organized a group and took over the government by coup’d’ etat. Since then, her thirst for power, never ended.

Good morning, Prime Minister Scree, said Empress.

Good morning, Empress, Prime Minister Scree of Forla greeted her.

Sit down, please, she beckoned him.

Empress’ son-in-law joined them at the table.

Nice to see you made it, she regarded her son-in-law.

Let’s begin our meeting, said her son-in-law.

I heard your advancing Dungos’ prowess in the technological world. I heard you also want to build more buildings, said Prime Minister Scree.

Yes, I’m going to need your steel to do so, Empress kindly asserted. (everyone laughs).

More and more people visit Dungo. They are impressed with its beauty. That was when we were nomads and lived off the fat of the land. Since we have become civilized, we want to advance our position in the technological age. And I’m sure, you both know what comes with the territory. We have to be able to protect ourselves thereby becoming an important power player in the race to arms and political arena. Increasingly, political leaders demand to meet on Dungo. Therefore, we need to build more buildings to meet that need., she purposefully left out the part about nuclear warheads.

What do you mean by ‘protect ourselves? Prime minister Scree asked.

He needed to know exactly what they wanted in order to meet their demand.

We need guns for our army and other weapons, she answered the question carefully.

I and my leaders heard you have the best steel there is to offer… she was cut off.

and we’re willing to pay anything for it, said Dungo’s secretary of finance, her daughter’s husband from earth, completing her sentence for her.

As you know, Earth was one of our top contenders to trade with. However, they could not meet our monetary demands, Prime minister Scree updated them.

That’s unfortunate to hear, Empress said sadly.

I know word has gotten out about earth’s tiny slip as a top contender in the vie for power, but I am embarking on a push to regain earth’s position as a viable political and technological contender in the growing free world.

Earth’s first lady finished her speech. She spotted Kelly and cornered her.

Agent Kelly… I haven’t seen you for days, earth’s first lady extended her arms to embrace agent Kelly.

I had a meeting with the Empress of Dungo on Dungo, replied Agent Kelly.

Kelly thought the conversation would never end.

Keep up the good work, said Earth’s first lady.

Sure thing, replied Kelly.

Agent Kelly embarked on her second mission. To seek out and find the building plan for nuclear warheads.

Here at the Pentagon, our country’s defense is top priority, said the orientation guide to a group composed of potential employees and visiting members of the world congress.

Agent Kelly took the opportunity. (She left her desk or) breaks away from the group and slipped into a room with a sign that read No Access. She removed her keycard fastened to the back of her khaki’s, applied it to the lock and gained entry. Magnificently bright lights lit a room with empty workstations where employees should be. White writings of equations covered glass walls which sectioned off the workstations. The nuclear physicists work here. She moved quickly. She could hear the group coming this way. She ran up three steps where the head physicist’s office overlooked the worker’s stations separated only by a glass wall. She flicked on her computer. The screen stood by idly for override. She overrode password after password. The fifth override did not work.

Please put in password,

Please put in password,

Please put in password, the computer voice repeatedly instructed.

She had to abandon this attempt.

Its been six months. Did you complete the mission? asked the low mysterious voice on the other end of Kelly’s cell.

No. Not yet, replied secret agent Kelly.

Agent Kelly did not like to disappoint Empress.

I couldn’t get in, she reported to Empress.

It worked like a charm the first time. I couldn’t believe it! said Kelly.

Don’t worry, Empress comforted Kelly.

We’ll find a way yet, promised Empress.

Stupid human, stupid human, cried the Dungo boys on the playground.

Little boys antics led to a complication between the two groups. Oliver stood by smiling and laughing as the two stars of each group exchanged insults. Half-humans were dispersed throughout the groups as a whole. Inside, Oliver felt a creeping feeling growing. In his mind, his heart, his conscience. He dreaded the day that he would have to confront it. It was here sooner than he believed.

What are you standing over there laughing for? shouted the jilted human boy.

Yeah, said all the Dungos and humans conglomerately.

The smile immediately vanished from Oliver’s face. Slowly, he dragged his feet and stood amongst the Dungos. The Dungos won a silent competition that day. Oliver looked over at his parents sitting on the park bench. Hoping for some sort of decision from them.

Ohhhh, look, the baby wants his mommy, said the lead Dungo boy.

Oliver often looked back on this moment in his life. He always laughed to himself about how it was the Dungo boy’s words that got to him that day.

Decrepet, off the bench you’re in the game, said a frustrated coach.

Previously, Oliver sat on the bench watching. Cheerleaders cheering and high kicking, the coach walking back and forth yelling at a failing team, the Knights running down the field, the Bucks running up the field. The human towel girl asking him if he wanted water.

Do you need some water, asked the towel girl.

She moved to the next player. Oliver gets up and runs into the melee. Oliver concentrated as they bent over in position. He stared into the human male’s face which dripped profusely, off a deeply frustrating furrowed frown, with hard-earned sweat.

Hut, said the player.

Oliver pelted. He watched as the guy in his uniform slowly backed away, calculating who to throw the ball to. The Bucks ran at top speed to crush him before he could see who to throw the ball to. Oliver couldn’t make-out the face behind the helmet. If it was Dungo, a halfee or human. He made his decision and threw the ball. Oliver intercepted it. Oliver felt that dread in the pit of his stomach again. Something not good would happen before the night was over. It crept up his feet as he ran, his legs, his chest, arms, he felt his arms move in slow motion his eyes multi-tasking, judging the distance of the onslaught about to come. The ball rested in his arms, but not before being pummeled between two bodies that seemed to be made of stone. The Bucks covered Oliver. He held on to the ball. By one’s, then by twos, they began climbing off Oliver. One human refused to let go.

Let go, said the referee.

He wouldn’t. Everyone now walked over to Oliver, and the human still locked in stalemate on the grassy field.

Billy, a Buck, Oliver’s teammate, grabbed off his helmet unaware that he is revealing beautiful purple neon hair.

Let him go, he yelled.

Don’t yell at him like that, said a halfee from the knights.

You shut up, not talking to you, replied Billy rudely.

Who are you telling to shut up, said a human to the Dungo.

Make me shut-up, said the halfee.

How about I make you shut-up, said the halfee from the Bucks.

They all faced each other and began fighting. Coach ran to stop the fight. Oliver lay hurt on the ground, the fans in the stands began fighting. Oliver closed his eyes shut. He remained in a fetal position on the ground, watching the towel girl tussle with a pink Dungo female. The human boy was hurt and his fingers dug into Oliver’s ribs who was also hurt. The ambulance came and both were taken to the hospital.

Selee looked at her son sleeping in his bed in his bedroom. She turned around and cut off the lights. The thought of the human digging his grubby greedy fingers into Oliver’s ribs. The next day, Oliver heard talking coming from downstairs.

Oliver! said a sprightly fortyish to fiftyish woman clad in a long silver shimmery gown, her bright neon blue hair up in a do.

Good morning, Oliver said to the unknown, but apparently important woman standing in the middle of their stately living room.

His mother stood next to her. They were obviously in deep conversation before he showed up. He had a feeling they were discussing him. He watched both heir faces looking up at him standing on the staircase. His mother’s face bright, her pink hair cascading around her shining smile. Empress’ outstretched arm her fingers beckoning him to come hither. He wondered where his father was at this moment. He walked down the stairs and into Empress’ arms. He wondered why this strange woman was embracing him so sensually.

I’ve heard so much about you, . . . that you’re a star on the football team… said Empress.

He had a game last night. He was…

Empress turned her head back to Sellee listening to what she was saying while her hands still held Oliver’s arms.

. . . . badly hurt, his mother completed the sentence.

Oh, that’s too bad, Empress said and raised her left hand placing it tenderly on Oliver’s left cheek.

I told him I hated him playing with those humans, his mother complained to Empress.

She beheld his face. He was silent.

I’m sorry honey. I didn’t introduce you to Empress, his mother apologized.

She always talked about back home on Dungo and how hard it was for her there.

This is Empress. She’s the current Empress on Dungo, said his mother officially introducing them.

Vaguely, he remembered her mentioning her to him many times before. He was in high school now. Grade point averages, girls, football, kept him endlessly busy. He knew exactly what he wanted and believed he knew how to get there. He worked hard at the scrimmages. He went back upstairs to his bedroom. Though he would not forget her. He stared at himself. He slowly raised his left hand to touch the spot Empress felt on his cheek. Oliver disappointed himself, raised himself from the ground. He caught the ball again, but got nowhere with it, before heavy bodies piled atop him before he could convert it to a touchdown. He thought about the human catching him and then digging his claws into his side bruising his ribs that he had to wear bandages for weeks. Oliver took tips after tips from coach and assistant coach. Soon he began converting to touchdowns. Oliver liked the feeling it gave him. Another fight broke out. This time, during the scrimmage. Billy watched Oliver, basking in glory after the touchdown, delivering the finality of the game. He stood with his hands on his hips perspiring and tired. Oliver now began coaching the team whenever Coach was out. Another fight broke out during scrimmage.

Come on Justin, . . . you know its part of the game. He was trying to stop you from making a touchdown, said the human to the other human about Billy.

I don’t care, shouted Justin in frustration he did that on purpose, he continued to protest.

Oliver ran onto the field. He separated the two heaving chests.

Come on guys… its not even a real game, . . . back down Billee, he shouted at Billee.

Billee, Oliver, and the other Dungos and a few halfees joked around as they walked down the hall in the high school. Oliver usually broke up fights, although sometimes he egged them on. A human bumped into him and wouldn’t say sorry. They fought. Oliver won. Billee began missing more and more practices as well as games. Oliver was never really a pushover. Billee dressed for the party. He brushed his purple neon hair. Sometimes he noticed the way humans looked at him when he flicked his hair out of his eyes. He never really gave it much thought. He walked to the party at the humans house. It was a spur of the moment thing. They just won a game. Though he himself did not attend the game. He was always up for a party. It was the human he fought with at the scrimmage. He did not want to go. He sat in the boys locker-room with his head down. He was beginning to get tired of school and everything else. He heard footsteps. He looked up. It was Oliver. He felt like a pariah.

Coming to the party? asked Oliver.

No, replied Billee.

Why not? asked Oliver.

He remains silent.

I wasn’t invited, responded Billee.

Don’t worry about that. Just come on anyway. He probably won’t even notice you’re there. He’ll be drunk, explained Oliver.

So will I, says Billee.

Oliver and the gang of other Dungos and some halfees beeped the horn outside Billee’s house. A for once, reserved Billee came out. They left. They arrived at the party. Already they were up their antics. They exited the car. Billee entered the house and sat on the sofa. They got tired of their antics outside. Oliver, trailed by the group, enters the house. Oliver sits across from Billee.

You look sort of down Billee, Oliver says.

What’s wrong? Oliver asked.

Nothing, replied Billee.

Here. Drink this, Oliver said offering Billee some beer.

He drank. Soon everyone in the gang only listened to Oliver.

Agent Kelly arrived on Dungo for another meeting.

Here she is, announced Empress.

I want you to meet someone.

She led her over to a woman with pink neon hair seated at the balcony table.

This is entrepreneur extraordinaire, Selly Kimpling, said Empress.

That name rings a bell, Kelly thought hurting her head trying to figure out why.

She owns a chain of stores all over New England, Empress continued.

Selly Kimpling rose from her chair and gave agent Kelly a handshake.

Oh, who are we kidding? said Selly.

They embraced each other.

This is Kelly. She works for the first lady on earth, said Empress.

Selly’s son and husband enters the room.

. . . and this is her son and husband.

Hello, they said politely and shook hands with Kelly.

"Her husband is house speaker for the world congress, and her son works for the Pentagon.

That was it! thought Kelly.

Selly was one of the original members of the coup’ d ‘etat.

"It’s good to have mommy and daddy working in high places, huh?’ she winked at Selly’s young son.

Selly knew what the Empress was doing. Someday she would explain it all to her son. As for his father, she loved him dearly. Especially for bestowing upon her their son.

We don’t have time. You must complete the mission tonight, said Empress.

I will be meeting with (Oliver or) the half-human tonight.

Excellent, said a now pleased Empress.

I will see that security is there to make sure the transaction goes well, said Empress.

They each hung up the phone.

He rushed to meet with Kelly tonight.

Going to meet that woman again? The one we met on Dungo?

Yes. Dad, He chatted with his Dad for a while before leaving.

Dad I’m late. I gotta go, Oliver said.

Oliver liked being treated special. When he walked down the street, everyone looked at him with respect. Humans and Dungos alike. The respect made him feel big. He likes the way everyone looks at him. Dungo was moving up in the world, and it was time he chose a side. Up until now, his parents provided for everything for him. He wanted more. He believed he knew how to get it. A storm was coming and he had to prepare. Now, for real, he did choose a side. He was already late as it is. He would be handing over the nuclear warhead blue-prints to Kelly, in disk form, over dinner, at the restaurant tonight. Employment at the Pentagon was strict. The CIA or FBI could be anywhere and he couldn’t afford to make the transaction on a busy New York street and blemish his family name or damage his reputation. Especially, not at night.

Shopping for high end clienteles all day, involved a lot of pulling clothes off racks and shelves, helping the clientele put on the outfit etc., then pushing clothes, sometimes jamming them back on the racks and shelves had finally left her craving a masseuse and acupuncture. Her left shoulder had become sore. So far she was the best candidate for this high end clientele. The third interview was next Thursday, and she saw a cute blouse that she just had to wear to the job interview. She knew it would help get her the job. When store employees weren’t looking she’d hide one in her size on another shelf somewhere. The blouse fit the requirements for the interview. Her budget finally allowed her to buy something comfortable. The anticipation of buying it tomorrow made her happy. It was now 5 pm and they bagged a couple outfits.

Alright so we’ll be meeting again tomorrow, right? asked Mr. Taya, the client she wanted to work with.

Yep, replied Io, trying to sound as cheerily as possible to hide her sore left shoulder.

They gave each other hugs on both sides and parted. Employers did not like to hire employees with health problems beforehand. They would have to shell out too much money in health insurance.

I’m going to stay behind to look around some more, said Mr. Taya, her potential boss.

They agreed again about the third interview next Thursday. Once out the door, Io, free now not pretending to have pain in her left shoulder quickly collected herself to the side of the store door and leaned on it rubbing her left shoulder with her right hand. Io looked back through the store’s huge glass window to see if Mr. Taya could see her tending her sore shoulder. He didn’t.

Io walked toward her yellow Audi. The snow on the ground had turned to slush. Which was now diminishing. Foot traffic gathered the slush along the sides of the sidewalk, forming a path within the sidewalk. It was cold.

Walking down towards her car she nearly slipped on the slush. Io opened the car door and sat in her car. With the heat turned on her body began to warm up. She flicked on the radio. The voice in her head told her not to listen to the song. It was evil. She looked out the window. In front of her were rows of brownstones. People were walking down the sidewalk heading home coming from the direction of a busy street where she had also come from. A couple walked by arm in arm. She continued rubbing her left shoulder. She liked this neighborhood. It was hip and lively. At all hours of the night there was always someone walking out on the street. Io turned off the radio although she liked the song. She would wait until the song went off. Five minute passed by. Io turned on her car radio and gazed out the car windshield in front of her. A young man walking briskly up the block caught her attention in her rearview mirror. He was looking at her. The look in his eyes… . She hated that look, for deep in her heart she knew what it meant. He is a half-human. You could always tell by the one distinct feature. About ten to fifteen strands of neon hair in his hair. The distinct pink neon flecks in his hair shown. Oh no, a pang of pain! There was that look. She had come to know it. She hated it. It always left a pang of pain. A sting. A horrible sting. Where? In her heart? She knew exactly what it meant. And secretly, so did he. She looked away. He stood about 6’4, several inches taller than she, and had on a brown short-sleeve top, with a black long-sleeve top underneath it. His skin as pale as the moon.

He is half-Dungo and half-human. That means one of his parents is Dungo. The other is human. But they are referred to as half-human. The look in their eyes always brought back bad memories.

Aha, taunted one Dungo.

This was when she was six-yrs old.

You’re just a stupid human. I’m Dungo. That means I’m better than you, taunted the young female Dungo.

It was hard to shoot back when all she saw was pretty orange neon hair.

The Dungos had come to Earth 70 years ago. We learned each others knowledge. Back in college, Io was offered an internship to work on their planet, Dungo. She turned it down. Her mother encouraged her to go. She did not want to go. They have neon hair! Pure pink, orange, green, purple, and what ever color you could think of! To add insult to injury, all the colors are neon to make it worst! Anyway, that was all a long time ago. She had gotten over her envy of the Dungos, or so she thought. She put the key in the ignition and began home. On the parkway, a song she loved came on, but the voice told her not to listen to it. It also gave her another instruction tonight. Although, she loved the song, she pressed the dial on the radio. She hated the voice. It made her do things she didn’t want to do. It was especially complex when she first began listening to it, and doing its bidding. Now, it was telling her, to go back. To go back, and see where the half-human was headed. Io, eschewed the thought.

No, no, I hate you!

I hate you, too, it said.

Her father even forbade her to see a half-human. Io turned the car around. She headed the opposite way down the parkway, and back onto the street she was just parked. Guessing, she made a right up a bustling street, where she thought the half-human might have turned. Driving while looking for the half-human, she felt like a heel. She finally spotted him. The moonlit night sky picking up the neon flecks in his hair. Io gasped in surprise. He was not alone this time. They were walking in the opposite direction that she was driving. Walking at a fast pace as when she first saw him.