It's Him or Us (Unlikely Bountyhunters Book 5) by Michael Todd & Michael Anderle

Author:Michael Todd & Michael Anderle [Todd, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Speculative
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2021-09-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

By the time they'd passed through two Gates, Chippie had become concerned about the state of John’s mental health.

“I’m just talking to help keep myself awake, kid,” John had said at one point.

“Yes, John, but you’re talking so much that I’m never sure if you expect a response or not. Even if you did expect one, I don’t know enough yet to give informed answers to all your questions. Who put the bomp in the bomp-de-bomp-de-bomp? Why do fools fall in love? And no, I don’t know the way to Santa Fe.”

John realized that he’d also been singing snatches of songs. Some from his younger days, some from his parents’ younger days, and some from his grandparents’, with whom he would often spend weekends.

“Sorry, kiddo.”

“No apologies necessary, John. But I do believe you need sleep before you make any future decisions.”

“I do believe you’re right, Chippie. As soon as we dock, I’ll pull out a cot and catch some Zs.”

“Are Zs easy letters to catch? Because your hand-eye coordination may not be at its sharpest right now. Maybe you should try for a couple of Bs. Maybe a C or two? Oh, and by the way, you have a lovely singing voice…that was singing, correct?”

John laughed. “Well, it’s as close as I can come to it. Meehix is much better at it than I am.”

“Calculations say our ETA is two more hours. Anything else you want to say to help stay awake?”

John gave it some serious thought. Maybe it was the memories of his parents and grand-parents. What the hell. Go for it.

“Chippie. Have we ever explained your origins?”

“Once, I was not. Then I was.”

Damn. Talk about simplifying everything right down to undisputed truths.

“Once upon a time,” John had always loved the way most fairy tales started but resisted the urge to add, on a planet, far, far away, “there was a planet where some good people lived, and some bad people lived.”

“Did the planet have a name?” Chippie was always eager to learn.

“Yes.” John nodded, although Chippie couldn’t see him. “It did and still does. Its inhabitants call it Earth. Everyone else calls it Kdack, or by its official name of Kdack 3a. That planet is where I was born and is where you once were not and then were. It’s the planet of both of our origins.”

“You and I are from the same planet?”

“Basically, yes.” John decided not to go into the details of how many different planets Chippie might have parts from.

“I did not know that but am pleased.”

John was beginning to doubt the wisdom of starting this tale, but in for a dime, in for a dollar.

“One day, on that planet—”

“Kdack?” Chippie wanted to make sure that John knew he’d been paying attention.

“That’s the planet, kid. It’s where you’re from… One day, a girl from another planet crash-landed on Kdack.”

“Oh my! Were they hurt?” Chippie was thinking of both the girl and the poor ship.

“Don’t worry.” John tried to ease the young mind’s anxiety. “They both survived.

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