Mars Rising- Part Three

Jun 08, 2008 - 00:26 AM PST

Parts one and two are linked here below

The Message

Just Another Day

Happy Birthday


After a quick shower and running a comb through his jet black hair, Oran left the bathroom in his typical fashion, unclothed, which after twenty-one years still managed to piss Selena off.
“Jesus Christ, at least have a towel on.” Screeched Selena as she once again was subjected to her brother’s modesty. “What if I had a guest over and you did that?”
“When was the last time you had a guest?” The naked man in the hallway replied.
“When mom stayed after dad died.”
“That was over a year ago, and how does mom count she was here to see both of us. She was our guest.” As he picked out his sharpest shirt so to impress Helena at Pub Phobos.
“Mom stayed in my room, ergo, my guest.”
“You know we spent nine months living a few inches from each other and we were both nude. You didn’t complain then.”
“My eyes were closed. Plus why do you think I came out first? To get away from your naked ugly ass. Now get dressed we have a party to attend, and as I understand it Helena will be there.”
“Sis’ I have a question. Does this shirt make me look fat?” Asking as he stood there in the doorway wearing only the shirt he was modeling.
“No, your tiny head makes you look fat. God you are such a woman sometimes.” Annoyed she threw his pants at him. “Here just ‘cause it’s your birthday doesn’t mean you get to wear your birthday suit.” He finished getting dressed and followed his sister out the door.

* * *

“Hey it’s the birthday twins!” One of their many random friends drunkenly hollered as they entered the bar. Oran quickly scanned the place for Helena, but could not find her. Demetrius came over with a big glass of some clear liquid and handed it to Selena.
“To one of the best employees I have ever had.” Lifting his glass to hers and then they both chugged their drinks. Selena began to cough and gasp for air.
“It burns, oh my God it burns.” As she stole a glass of water from a nearby party goer to wash down the liquid fire she had just consumed. “What the hell did you just give me?”
“It is an old Earth drink, they call it moonshine.” Demetrius said with a big smile on his face. “It was outlawed in many areas; I don’t know why the stuff is great.”
“You know until he just tried to poison you, I thought Demetrius liked you.” Oran said quietly as he leaned in towards his sister, who was still recovering from her near death experience.
“Eww, really?” She gasped with a look of shock and horror overcame her face. “Well that explains why I always get the good jobs at work.” She was finally starting to feel normal again as she walked around the room meeting and greeting all the people that had come out for her and her brother. As she went around every guy offered to buy her a drink, she learned her lesson and asked for certain drinks so she wouldn’t be so surprised. About an hour or so into the party Selena was surprised by someone putting their hand on her shoulder. She whipped around, slipping her drink, and there was Helena.
“So how long has Oran been waiting for me?” Helena asked.
“About five years.” Selena quickly, and slightly under the influence, responded.
“Well where is he I think he might want my gift to him.”
“Hey don’t I get a gift? It is my birthday too.” The drunken birthday girl so boldly stated.
“Well I was going to give Oran a kiss, but if you want one too I guess I can muster up the courage.” She leaned in and gave her not so secret admirer’s sister a kiss on the lips. Selena was completely taken aback by this but was delayed in her reaction just long enough that it looked as if she might be kissing back.
“Well this has turned out to be a great night, the woman I pine after ends up making out with my sister at my birthday party.” Oran’s voice came from somewhere within the crowd that had formed to watch this kiss. Stepping out he gave Helena his best sad puppy dog look.
“Well I hope you’re not mad I got you the same thing this year, I can take it back if you don’t want it.” Helena said looking up at the poor guy she had wrapped around her finger for so long.
“Would you like a drink Helena, Demetrius still has something called moonshine. It about knocked my baby sister out after one drink.”
“You are the baby, I am your elder, best respect me and my wisdom.” Moaned his drunken sister who was now dancing on the bar. Well at least she was trying to dance.
“Sure I would love a drink.” Helena replied as she was taken by the arm and lead to the bar by her want to be suitor. After getting a round of drinks for the both of them they found a table off to the side where there was less traffic.
“So about this present?” He couldn’t even get that past his lips without the biggest goofy grin on his face.
“I was thinking you could walk me home tonight and when you drop me off I’ll give it to you.” She said as she took a drink of whatever they were trying to pass off as a lager. They sat there uninterrupted until Saul came stumbling over followed closely by Greg.
“Oran I want to run something by you.” Saul asked as his eyes turned to Selena’s dress, or more so directly at the cleavage busting from it. “So Will has been working on dock 439 and for the past week he has noticed that his shipment that he loads for Neue Berlin was taking off and heading south west. But Neue Berlin is to the north.” He said as if he had discovered some great mystery.
“So what is your point?” Oran asked annoyed that he had been interrupted by these two for something so stupid. “And why are you even listening to Will, do you remember Ranger Scouts, the guy was always getting lost because he didn’t know which way was what.”
“Yeah I know, but today I watched and the ship did go south west.” Saul exclaimed as to prove that this was a fact. “I went over to help finish and that ship definitely went the wrong direction.”
“Are you sure it was heading to Neue Berlin? They may have been going to the Red Ridge colony which is south west of us.” Oran wanted these two jokers gone.
“No the Red Ridge doesn’t get its shipments from here; theirs comes from the Ares Plains.” Helena piped up. “But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a perfectly good reason for this. There are some pilots who if they have enough time stop at some ‘Acquaintance’s’ for some friendship. If you catch my meaning.”
“Have you ever had an acquaintance?” Oran questioned his lady friend.
“None of your business birthday man.” She had a smile on her face knowing that not knowing for sure the answer was going to drive Oran mad. Knowing he wanted to think of her as a pristine virgin that he alone would welcome into the world of ‘Friendship’.
“Okay guys I will check this out with you tomorrow. But now I think it is time for me to take our favorite pilot home so she can rest up for tomorrow’s deliveries.” Getting up he walked her to the bar to pay their tab and dawning their re-breathers they walked out the door.
When they arrived at her apartment she turned and looked at him. She reached up and pulled his re-breather off her face, and replaced it with her lips. Oran was completely taken aback by this kiss, but he was in heaven. The kiss only lasted for a few seconds, but to Oran it seemed like an eternity, one that he would willingly prolong had it not been for the fact that neither of them could breathe the Martian air.
“I bet no woman has ever kissed you and taken your breath away before.” Helena joked as she pulled her mask back up to her face.
“No, and I would be fine if you were the only one.” Oran in a daze, partly due to the kiss and partly due not having his re-breather on.
“Goodnight Oran, I hope you are loading my ship tomorrow.”
“Is that a hint to come in tonight?” Asking in the vain hope that tonight he might get more than a kiss.
“Don’t press your luck.” Shutting the door in his face. Oran walked home thinking about the most wonderful kiss he had ever had, of course this was only his second non-relative kiss so there wasn’t much to compare with. He walked in the door and heard a strange sound coming from the bathroom. There on the floor was Selena, with her head buried in the toilet moaning something to the effect of ‘I will never drink again’.
“Goodnight sis’, Oh I forgot to clean the toilet this week so don’t stay in there too long.” At that she proceeded to expel the alcohol that she consumed earlier that night.

© 2008 Aaron Kuhns