Behr's Rebel

Chapter 1-2

Raia worried her bottom lip as she studied all the items on the shelf in the curiosity shop. She was looking for something special. After all, today was her birthday, and she would never be this age again. Well, she would be for a whole year, but today was super special because it was the first day of that year.

She clutched the small bag of credits that Ander had given her right before they disembarked from their ship. There were so many cool shops filled with all kinds of really awesome things to buy that she didn’t know where to start. Just when she thought she found one thing she wanted, something else would catch her eye.

“Hey, we don’t allow pets in here,” the shopkeeper growled in annoyance.

Raia scanned the room, searching for the cause of the shopkeeper’s irritation. Her eyes widened when she realized he was glaring accusingly at her. She lifted her hand and pointed a finger at her chest.

“Are you talking to me?” she inquired with raised eyebrows.

The two-headed Tiliqua gave her a sharp nod with both heads. “Who else would I be talking to? Hey! What are you doing? You a thief?” the other head barked.

Raia opened her mouth to retort that she had credits when she saw a flash of sparkles out of the corner of her eye. She uttered a startled squeak when a ball of tan and white fur rolled across her feet and shot out the door. She gaped in awe when the creature unfurled and grinned at her with large, luminous eyes before taking off on four legs.

“You owe me for that!” the shopkeeper yelled.

Raia looked back and forth in disbelief at the Tiliqua and the spot where the creature had just been. The shopkeeper scurried around the counter with a large pole in his hands, and she backed up instinctively, bumping into a small table. The backpack she was wearing knocked over several items and they fell to the floor with a sickening crash. She twisted around and hurriedly straightened the few items she hadn’t knocked off the shelf while she kept an eye on the furious merchant.

“That creature wasn’t mine. I don’t have any pets,” she defended, scrambling to untangle her backpack from the scarves caught on the zipper.

“I saw you two come in together. You better have credits for the items that beast stole and those you broke!” the shopkeeper shouted.

Raia winced when she swung around and her arm knocked a dozen small black containers to the floor. Dozens of small black crab-like creatures poured from the boxes, their large double pincers snapping furiously at her boots. A squeak of alarm slipped from her as she hopped and twisted to get away from them.

“I’ll have you arrested for destroying my store! Security! Security! Thief!! I have a thief!” the Tiliqua roared from both of his mouths.

“I’m s-sorry. I’m sorry,” Raia said before she twirled and fled from the shop.

She turned to the left, cringing when she heard the yelps of the shopkeeper and the sound of crashing behind her. Searching wildly for a place to hide, she noticed two security officers heading her way.

She pulled in a shaking breath and darted behind a large stack of woven baskets. After waiting for the two guards to pass by, she threaded her way through the alley between the two shops. Once she was certain they couldn’t see her, she took off at a rapid pace through the crowded market.

She was nearly ten stores away when one of the guards behind her yelled loudly. Glancing over her shoulder, she cringed when the two security guards pushed through the crowd, heading in her direction. Panic coursed through her, and she took off, sprinting through the crowd while desperately searching for a place to hide. She spotted a wide structural beam and slipped within the contours of the h-shaped beam. Seconds later, the heavy pounding of booted feet slowed and paused on the other side of the beam.

Holding her breath, Raia pulled her backpack around to her chest and pressed her back against the massive metal beam. She focused on slowing her breathing and remained motionless. She leaned her head back and waited.

“Let’s just write this up. This is the third time this week that Frope has accused someone of bringing a pet into his shop and stealing from him,” one of the guards breathlessly groaned.

“Do you think it was the same creature that was seen down on Level 2?” the other guard asked.

“Sounds like it to me. I’ll ask Command to send a trapper for it. It probably came in off one of the ships….”

Raia breathed a sigh of relief when the guards’ voices faded as they walked away. The sound of metal-against-metal came to her from the alley. She tightened her arms around her backpack. The narrow section was a service passage. It was barely wide enough for her to fit in.

Gnawing on her bottom lip, she peered around the beam. She could see the two security personnel still standing across from the shops. She took a deep breath, pulled her backpack back on, and stuffed the small bag of credits into the inner pocket of her dark brown jacket.

“Well, you wanted to have an exciting birthday,” she muttered.

Gripping the straps of her backpack, she slowly began walking down the alley. She kept reminding herself that this spaceport wasn’t like the others that she and Ander usually visited. This one was more upscale. There were no monsters hiding in the dark alley, waiting to slit the throats of an unwary visitor.

At least I hope there aren’t, she silently prayed.

Her footsteps faltered when the sound of metal-on-metal rang through the alley again. It sounded like someone was banging on something—like they were trying to open a metal door or grate. She cautiously peered behind a large electrical box. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a small light and turned it on. The banging stopped, and a pair of luminous eyes peered up at her out of the darkness.

“It’s you!” she quietly hissed, staring down at the bundle of tan and white fur.

The fur ball had been banging on a heavy metal lock that held a small cage closed. Pieces of partially eaten fruit lay scattered around the cage with a variety of other items. The bars were scraped and chipped, and broken pieces of metal lay on the ground, testaments to previous failed attempts to open the cage.

“Hey, do you need some help?” Raia gently asked.

She slowly stepped around the electrical box, holding her free hand out. The fur ball climbed on top of the cage and carefully studied her. She giggled when it smiled at her and held out a partially eaten piece of fruit. She shook her head.

“No, thank you. I’ve already eaten,” she murmured.

A muffled sniff drew her attention back to the cage. She carefully shrugged off her backpack and knelt. Peering inside the cage, she noticed an adorable creature with large, round eyes, black and white spotted fur, huge rounded ears, tiny paws, and a long fluffy tail. The white, fluffy fur that ran under its chin and down along its chest was filthy. Her heart melted when the light caught the tears glimmering in its large dark eyes.

“Hey, you look like you could use some help,” she gently said.

She unzipped the small front pocket of her backpack and pulled out a set of tools that she used for working on the ship’s circuit boards. Shining the light on the lock, she tried to balance it as she pulled free the tool she would need. She blinked in surprise when a pair of small hands reached out and took the light. Four tiny fingers held the light on the lock for her.

“Thank you!” she breathed.

Bending forward, she worked the tool into the lock, poking around until she felt the groove for the release. With a skillful twist, she popped the heavy lock open. She grinned triumphantly as she pulled the lock off and opened the cage.

The former prisoner scurried out and onto her lap. She sat back on her haunches in surprise. The creature lifted its head. Through the dirty fur she could see the red light on a neck collar. Her eyes darkened with fury. This poor creature had been captured by black market poachers.

“Hang on, and I’ll get this off you. Stay really still,” she instructed.

Leaning over the creature, she carefully twisted the collar around so that the release was facing her. This lock was going to be tricky. It had a small explosive device that would kill the poor thing. The creature bowed its head and buried its face in her lap while she carefully picked at the lock.

She paused and wiped her damp palm on her pant leg. Ander had shown her how to disarm locks like this. Heck, he had taught her how to disarm just about every type of lock invented. He’d told her that you never know when you’ll need to get into something—or out of it.

“There you go,” she said when the light turned green and the collar popped open. “I think I’ll take this back to the ship and tear it apart. I might find out where it came from.”

The creature looked up at her and tilted its head as if it understood and was thoughtfully considering her. She giggled in return. Its large, rounded ears twitched back and forth, and Raia affectionately scratched the soft fur on top of its head before gently lifting it and placing it on the ground.

Pulling her backpack toward her, she unzipped it and placed the collar inside. Ander might know which poachers used a device like this. He knew all kinds of cool things. She grinned when the other creature grabbed her hand and looked at it.

“No, you can’t have my ring. Ander gave it to me,” she said, curling her fingers when the furball tried to pull the white gold and diamond ring off.

She gasped softly when the furball laid its tiny hand on hers. Images floated through her mind—images that were coming from the creature. She frowned in confusion. Ander had never told her about any telepathic animals.

A beep startled her and the two creatures. She scowled down at the communicator on her wrist, rolling her eyes when she saw Ander’s blue-green, scaly face scowling back at her. Pushing up off the ground, she glanced both ways along the alley before she answered.

“Hey, Ander,” she cheerfully greeted.

The scowl on his face darkened. “Go down the alley away from the market, turn left, and I’ll meet you,” he ordered.

“Aw, Ander,” she complained. “I haven’t found a present yet!”

“Given the commotion the Tiliqua is causing, you’ve had enough excitement,” he dryly replied.

She rolled her eyes again, forgetting that he could see her, and kicked at a piece of litter on the ground. “I didn’t do anything,” she muttered.

Ander’s expression softened. “I know you didn’t. Come meet me. I have something I think you might like.”

“Okay,” she mumbled, disconnecting the connection and sighing loudly.

Turning around, she frowned when she noticed that both of the cute but bizarre creatures had disappeared while she was talking to Ander. She huffed out a heavy sigh and shrugged her shoulders in disappointment. It was probably just as well. Ander had a strict rule of no animals on the ship.

She reached down, zipped her backpack up, and slung it over her right shoulder. Her foot hit the cage, and she looked down at it with a frown. Biting her lip in indecision, she cast a sweeping scan of the area. The last thing she wanted was for the spotted animal, or maybe the mischievous fur ball, to get trapped again.

Halfway down the alley was a recycling chute. Pleased with her idea, she picked up the small metal cage, pulled open the refuse box and deposited the offending cage down the chute. Wiping her hands, she took off down the alley, pausing when she reached the end to peer around the corner before turning left. A wry smile curved her lips when Ander straightened from where he had been leaning against the wall. She nodded toward the box and a colorfully wrapped package in his arms.

“Did you find what you were looking for?” she asked.

He smiled and nodded. “Yes, Happy Birthday, Raia,” he said, holding out the wrapped package.

“What did you get me? Can I open it now?” she asked with a huge grin.

She eagerly skipped toward him and reached for the thick package. Shaking it gently to see if it rattled, she tested the weight, trying to guess what was inside. It felt solid. Ander chuckled, wrapped his tail around her waist, and pulled her into a tight hug.

“Happy Birthday,” he muttered before releasing her.

She grinned up at him. “Thanks, Ander,” she said.

“Do you want me to carry it?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No, I can carry it,” she replied, hugging her gift against her chest.

He chuckled again and placed his arm around her shoulders. “So, are you going to tell me what happened?” he asked.

She sighed loudly. “I swear it was so weird!” she began, walking beside him as he turned around and they retraced their steps back to the docking bays.